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Lifetime in prison is fair punishment
Two people systematically brutalized 5-year-old Talia Williams until she died in 2005. One of them will be out of prison by 2025, the other faces the death penalty. This inequity should be reason enough for jurors to reject the death penalty for Talia’s father, Naeem Williams, and instead sentence him to life in prison.
Meanwhile, Talia’s stepmother, Delilah Williams, whiles away her 20-year term seeking friends on the Internet, anticipating freedom. She got the sweetheart deal by testifying against her husband. There was no shortage of evidence in this case, and prosecutors should have sought full punishment for both guilty parties.
Life in prison for Naeem Williams would provide justice for Talia without violating Hawaii’s ban against the death penalty. That this is a federal case does not mean that community standards should be ignored.
Loyal Wahine fans show up football
Season-ticket sales are lagging for the University of Hawaii football, which is no surprise given the Warriors 1-11 showing in 2013.
UH Athletics Director Ben Jay is coming up with all sorts of promotions to boost new ticket sales, and creativity is required.
While only about 67 percent of football season-ticket holders have renewed their seats, the good news is that Rainbow Wahine volleyball fans are back in droves. Eighty-six percent of season-ticket holders have renewed their seats for Coach Dave Shoji’s milestone 40th season.
Maybe the trick to getting more folks to Aloha Stadium is having the Rainbow Wahine play out there too.