Monday, April 27, 1998

Ordenstein ‘scared’
says attorney

Former St. Louis and
New Mexico football standou
arrested on attempted
murder charge

Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Former New Mexico football player Kawika Ordenstein didn't immediately turn himself in to authorities after being charged with attempted murder because he was scared, his attorney said.

Ordenstein, who was a high school football and basketball star at Honolulu's St. Louis School, was charged in an arrest warrant issued Friday night in the beating of UNM track sprinter James Marin. Ordenstein was arrested Saturday at a hotel near the university along with his girlfriend, Shauna Thomas, who was charged with harboring and aiding a felon.

Ordenstein's attorney Robert Cooper said Ordenstein wanted to meet with his father before going to the police. Ordenstein's father arrived from Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday night after the arrest.

"We had planned for the father and son to get together and then allow his father to turn him in Sunday," Cooper said.

Another Ordenstein attorney agreed.

"This is a 20-year-old kid," attorney Tom Clear said. "He's scared. He wanted to talk with his father before he did anything."

Ordenstein -- who was being held on $100,000 bond -- allegedly beat Marin, 19, on Thursday.

He is accused of repeatedly slamming Marin's his head against a car. Marin remained in serious condition yesterday after being removed from intensive care Saturday.

Ordenstein was to be arraigned this afternoon on the charge of attempted murder, but his attorneys say the circumstances don't justify such a serious charge.

"We've been asking why it was attempted murder since day one," Cooper said. "We don't think it should be attempted murder. It seems to be a case of battery."

Attempted murder is a second-degree felony that carries a basic sentence of seven years in prison.

Lt. Jay Daniels of the campus police said the attempted murder charge was filed after officers investigated and talked to witnesses.

One witness said she saw Ordenstein strike Marin in the head twice. She also said that while Marin was on the ground, Ordenstein choked him with one hand and punched him in the face with the other.

Another witness said he saw Ordenstein hit Marin in the face, slam his head against a car and choke him while saying, "I'm going to kill you."