A man who reportedly killed another man with a tree branch in Longmont in February entered a plea of not guilty on Friday.
Kamaloni Manu, 47, was charged with first-degree murder — extreme indifference; and first-degree murder — after disposition, in connection with the death of a man at 2121 Miller Drive near Front Range Community College in Longmont. He reportedly used a bat, club or tree branch to beat up 44-year-old Brendan Murphy at a bus stop at 7:48 a.m. Feb. 22, according to an affidavit.
Manu is set for a motions hearing on March 10. He is in custody in lieu of a bond of $10 million.
Initial reports indicated that Murphy was covered in blood and awake but unable to talk. When police arrived, they reported him as unconscious with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Longs Peak Hospital where he died at 10:37 a.m. that day.
A witness followed Manu from the bus stop until police arrived. Manu was taken into custody and police retrieved video surveillance of the incident from Front Range Community College.
Police said Manu is seen walking north in the west parking lot of the college at around 6:33 a.m., based on the video. Manu is seen stopping by the entrance of the college and Murphy is seen coming from the same direction where he goes to a tree and sits down at around 7:11 a.m. and looks down at his cell phone, according to the affidavit.
The video shows Manu walking north on the sidewalk before approaching Murphy. According to the affidavit, at 7:22 a.m., Manu is recorded raising a stick over his head and then hitting Murphy around 23 times, which was also captured on a second camera across the street from the school. During the attack, police said Murphy can be seen on video sitting up before falling backwards, rolling around and putting his hands up in the air.
Police later determined that the weapon was a tree branch that was around one and a half inches at the tip, according to the affidavit.
Police interviewed Manu in custody, where he first stated that he witnessed a fight at the bus stop and did not know anyone involved. After being shown the video surveillance footage, Manu said that he heard from other people in Longmont that Murphy was a child molester, according to the affidavit.
Manu told officers that he confronted Murphy at the bus stop about being a child molester and said he did not stand for that type of behavior.
Manu also stated that he was at peace and did not think Murphy was hurt because he was wearing a hat and the stick did not break, according to the affidavit.
Murphy does not have any criminal history in Colorado relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse, according to court records.
Police said they also contacted two Front Range Community College security staff members.
Both saw Manu hit what they thought was a tree and went out to contact Manu, according to the affidavit.