Homeless man charged in girlfriend’s death pleads not guilty

Gibran Copeland, the homeless man charged with murder and gun charges in the Sept. 9 death of his girlfriend whose body was found in a Manoa storm drain, asked a Circuit Court judge of Oahu that bail be set in his case.

Copeland, 44, was arraigned Monday, pleading not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate crime, for allegedly shooting Christina multiple times Baca, 50 years old.

Public defender Harrison Kiehm asked Judge Ronald Johnson that bail be set and pointed to the defendant’s father, Walter Copeland, in the gallery.

Walter Copeland greeted his son, who appeared via video conference, and took photos of him with his cell phone.

Kiehm said holding without bail was not warranted.

He said by setting bail, a pre-trial investigation would be triggered and allow for an investigation, resulting in a report.

Assistant Prosecutor Molly O’Neill said Baca’s body was found Sept. 13 in a storm drain and surveillance of the area linked the defendant to the crime.

She said Gibran Copeland was a flight risk, had a history of domestic violence and before killing Baca, he grabbed her and pulled her to the ground.

At the time of his arrest, he was transient and had no information about his employment, O’Neill said.

Copeland informed the court that he received a military pension of $3,000 per month.

Police took four weeks to investigate the crime, interviewing numerous witnesses, analyzing digital trails and DNA evidence, and reviewing hours of surveillance video before arresting Copeland on October 11.

Police said he lived in a tent on Hunakai Street and that Baca also lived in a homeless encampment.

However, the judge cited a recent Intermediate Appellate Court decision in State v. Carter, in which bail was set at $3.3 million by the Circuit Court. Carter argued that the bond was excessively high, but his initial bail status was not a bond. The ICA ruled that the Circuit Court abused its discretion in setting cash bail in the amount of $3.3 million without analyzing the defendant’s financial situation. However, she found that the refusal of bail was appropriate.

Johnson said that regarding the Copeland case, Kiehm could take up the matter with the trial judge.

Copeland’s trial is scheduled for Dec. 23 before Judge Catherine Remigio.