A 47-year-old man will be sentenced to a maximum 20-year prison term for his manslaughter conviction Monday for the 2009 beating of his estranged wife’s boyfriend with a metal reinforcing bar.
Paul Kaeo was on trial on a charge of murdering Charles Kahumoku Jr. with the 2-foot-long bar outside Kaeo’s home in Maili in May 2009.
But the Circuit Court jury found Kaeo guilty of the lesser manslaughter charge of recklessly killing the 49-year-old victim.
The jurors deliberated for about three hours Friday and Monday.
Kaeo’s defense sought an acquittal of all charges, arguing that Kaeo didn’t intend to kill Kahumoku and wanted to protect his wife, Debbie, who had been threatened and beaten by Kahumoku.
Kaeo testified he thought Kahumoku was going to harm his wife.
Kaeo’s lawyer, Randall Hironaka, said they were disappointed with the outcome but accept the verdict.
"We obviously would have preferred an acquittal," he said.
Deputy Prosecutor Adrian Dhakhwa said they respect the verdict.
"Justice was done in this case," he said.
Dhakhwa said he hopes the verdict will bring "closure and justice" to Kahumoku’s family.
If convicted of murder, Kaeo would have been sentenced to a mandatory life term with parole.
He is not eligible for probation for the manslaughter charge because of a prior sex-assault conviction.
Circuit Judge Karen Ahn’s only other option is to impose the maximum 20-year term at the sentencing scheduled for Oct. 17.
