Trial for couple accused of killing their adopted daughter by putting her in a dog cage has been postponed

• The murder trial for the adoptive parents of a 6-year-old girl in Honolulu has been delayed to May.
• Prosecutors have accused Isaac and Lehua Kalua of killing their daughter Isabella "Ariel" Kalua.
• The couple, who've been charged with second-degree murder, could face life sentences if convicted.

NEW LOOK

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app

Email address

Sign up

By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time.

The murder trial for the adoptive parents of a 6-year-old girl in Honolulu has been pushed back four months, to May, because of COVID-19, according to court documents.

Isaac and Lehua Kalua face nine charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, in connection with the death of Isabella "Ariel" Kalua. Prosecutors are seeking life sentences without the possibility of parole if they're convicted. The Kaluas have pleaded not guilty.

The trial had been set to start at the end of January but was delayed because of a rise in COVID-19 cases in Hawaii, the documents said.

The couple fostered Isabella and three of her siblings for several years before adopting Isabella and two of the siblings on January 26, 2021, a social worker told The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Kaluas reported Isabella missing on September 13. Authorities in Honolulu have said they believe the girl had been dead for at least a month and have accused Kaluas of covering up her death and hiding evidence.

In an affidavit filed in November, an investigator said Isabella's 12-year-old sister told him that Isaac and Lehua Kalua had duct-taped Isabella's mouth and nose and left her in a dog cage, where she died.

Prosecutors and relatives said the siblings had been removed from their biological mother's custody because of substance-use and housing issues. Isabella's biological family members are said to be considering a lawsuit against state officials over Isabella's placement with the Kaluas.

Records indicate in 2000, Isaac Kalua was convicted of four felony charges of assault, attempted assault, and terroristic threatening, to which he pleaded guilty and served five years of probation.

An attorney representing the Kaluas could not be immediately reached for comment.