NORTH COUNTY COURTS
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Penifoti Taeotui and Meki Gaono, two Oceanside men charged with murder in the slaying of Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant, were drunk and decided to “test their guns” by shooting at Bessant, according to court testimony yesterday.
Under questioning by Deputy District Attorney Tom Manning, a relative of Taeotui testified that Taeotui revealed that and other details about the shooting shortly after it occurred Dec. 20, 2006.
Prosecutors say Taeotui, 18, and Gaono, 19, fired at Bessant while the officer was at a traffic stop near Arthur Avenue and Gold Drive. Gaono, who will stand trial later, fired the fatal shot from a .22-caliber rifle from 386 feet away, they say, while Taeotui fired a .22-caliber revolver but missed Bessant.
Prosecutors have said some witnesses have received death threats and asked the media not to publish their names.
Three of Taeotui's relatives testified yesterday in Vista Superior Court. Two of them were granted immunity from prosecution related to helping him after the shooting.
The third declined to take the immunity agreement and gave few and contradictory answers on the stand.
One of the witnesses repeatedly answered “yes” when Manning presented him with a series of questions about information the man said Taeotui had told him. They included these details:
Gaono fired at Bessant first with a rifle equiped with a scope, after which Taeotui and another man, Jose Compre, opened fire. Charges against Compre were dismissed in late March when Judge Runston G. Maino said he wasn't convinced there was enough evidence against the 17-year-old, who remains in custody on unrelated charges. Prosecutors said say they are considering refiling charges against him.
Bessant was hit with the first shot fired by Gaono and fell to the ground.
Gaono, Taeotui and Compre continued to fire at Oceanside police Officer Karina Pina as she radioed for help. Bessant had stopped to help Pina during a traffic stop.
The day after the shooting, Taeotui said he had to get out of town because the police were looking for him.
During cross-examination, Taeotui's attorney, Wil Rumble, suggested that prosecutors pressured the man to incriminate Taeotui, saying he would would face prison as an accessory if he refused to go along with a “playbook” of questions.
“Isn't it true that they threatened you with eight years in prison if you didn't cooperate?” Rumble asked.
“Yes,” the man answered.
On cross-examination, prosecutors suggested that the playbook was merely a recap of the man's prior statements.
“The playbook is essentially saying, 'Tell the truth,' right?' ” Manning asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
Bruce Lieberman: (760) 476-8205; bruce.lieberman@uniontrib.com
