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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Missionary Returns To Face Firebombing Charges
Deseret News 20Mar00 S2
By Jeff Call: Deseret News sports writer
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- An LDS missionary serving in New York City
has returned from his mission to face charges in connection with a
1998 firebombing that destroyed a Salt Lake home. Sione Havili, 20, a
star running back at East High School in Salt Lake City had hoped to
attend BYU after overcoming academic problems on his return this
fall. However, he was implicated in the firebombing by an accomplice,
who plead guilty to a reduced charge.
After the home was firebombed on October 18, 1998, Salt Lake
prosecutors charged Siale Vainuku, 20, and Viliami Wolfgramm, 20,
with the crime. Wolfgramm plead guilty to a reduced charge earlier
this month, also implicating Havili; Patrick George Hautau, 21; and
Samuel Amato Kutu, 20; in the crime. All of the other participants
have been charged with a first-degree felony in Salt Lake's Third
District Court.
Havili made his first appearance in court on Thursday, March16th, and
is scheduled to have an additional appearance later this month, "He's
been cooperative with the police," said his attorney, Ed Brass. He
adds that Havili answered questions from prosecutors on the case over
the phone while he was still on his mission. Trial is expected to
begin this summer, and Brass says additional facts about the incident
will come to light then. "It's too soon for his side of the story,"
he said. "It's been very difficult for him and his family. They are
very religious people. I'm just getting to know the kid, but he's
very personable and well-spoken. I hope we can get his life back on
track."
Havili's athletic abilities even attracted attention as a missionary
last year, in an article in the New York Daily News [see http://w
ww.mormonstoday.com/990523/C3NYMission02.shtml]. The article
describes how Havili and his companion, Elder Carlson, accepted a
challenge to a street basketball game, in which the Elder's soundly
beat the challengers.
Brass says he hopes that Havili can get this incident behind him,
"It's very shocking as his attorney to see him accused of something
like this. He's a real good kid," Brass said. "I hope BYU and
everyone will withhold judgment on him. There are some mitigating
factors in the case that will come out."
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