The Latest: Judge allows grandma's early testimony

HONOLULU (AP) — The Latest on a hearing about grandma's testimony in corruption case (all times local):

3 p.m.

A judge is allowing a 99-year-old woman to provide early testimony in a corruption case against her granddaughter.

U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright on Friday granted federal prosecutors' request to take Florence Puana's deposition in the event she won't be available for trial. The deposition is scheduled for April 15.

Puana is the grandmother of Katherine Kealoha, an ex-deputy Honolulu prosecutor. Kealoha and her retired police chief husband are accused of defrauding relatives, banks and children to maintain a lavish lifestyle. Prosecutors say Puana is central to establishing a motive. They say Katherine Kealoha stole money from her grandmother and uncle and when they threatened to expose the fraud, Kealoha tried to have her grandmother declared incapacitated and framed her uncle.

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9:30 a.m.

A judge is considering whether to take early testimony from a 99-year-old year woman prosecutors say is a key witness in a Hawaii corruption investigation.

U.S. prosecutors want Florence Puana to be deposed by April 26 because of her health and age. They're concerned she won't be available for trial. A judge scheduled a hearing Friday on the request.

Puana is the grandmother of Katherine Kealoha, an ex-deputy Honolulu prosecutor. Kealoha and her retired police chief husband are accused of defrauding relatives, banks and children to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

Prosecutors say Puana is central to establishing a motive. They say Katherine Kealoha stole money from her grandmother and uncle and when they threatened to expose the fraud, Kealoha tried to have her grandmother declared incapacitated and framed her uncle.

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The Latest: Judge allows grandma's early testimony