A 22-year-old Kalihi man is going to prison for at least 10 years for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man who had gone to Ala Moana Beach Park in 2008 to fight him.
A state Circuit Court judge Tuesday sentenced Christopher Alesna to 20 years in prison for manslaughter and ordered him to spend at least 10 years of his sentence behind bars before he can be eligible for parole because he used a firearm in the slaying. The Hawaii Paroling Authority can set a higher minimum.
Alesna was facing a murder charge for killing Khaynava Phanthanouvong on Sept. 1, 2008, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February in a plea agreement.
In addition to the prison term, Circuit Judge Steven Alm ordered Alesna to pay $3,434 restitution to Phanthanouvong’s oldest sister for her brother’s funeral expenses and $4,000 to the state fund for crime victims.
Police said Alesna, who was 19 years old at the time, and Phanthanouvong knew each other and agreed to fight at the park after Phanthanouvong called and sent text messages challenging Alesna.
Alesna shot Phanthanouvong in the chest after the two confronted each other near the Waikiki Yacht Club. He shot Phanthanouvong two more times, once in each ear, as Phanthanouvong was running away.
A friend drove Phanthanouvong to the Queen’s Medical Center, where he died.
Alesna fled but later turned himself in.
Phanthanouvong’s oldest sister, Jade Powers, said she and her brother had been in Hawaii less than a month after moving from Texas when her brother died.
Another sister, Chantha Phanthanouvong, said her brother wanted to be a firefighter.
Alesna apologized to Phanthanouvong’s family members and asked for their forgiveness.
Alm told Alesna he imposed the 10-year minimum because "you took a gun to a fistfight."
