Man pleads guilty to manslaughter and speaks with victim’s parents

Murder defendant Makuola Collins pleaded guilty in state court Monday to manslaughter for the 2011 shooting death of his childhood friend Joel Botelho, then in a move rarely seen in court, huddled with Botelho’s parents for a private talk.

Nonohe Botelho asked for the opportunity to speak to Collins, who agreed, and Circuit Judge Karen Nakasone granted the request.

“Makuola was not only a friend to my son, but he called me auntie, and after all these years I needed to see him and hear him again and look in his eye,” Botelho said.

She said the conversation went well. Botelho said she and her husband urged Collins to be productive while he is in prison so that he can give back to the community when he gets out.

Chris Botelho said, “Speaking with Maku, hearing him admit what was done and that he wants to move forward and that he wants all the things right, that’s what we needed to hear.”

After the Botelhos exited the courtroom, Collins’ parents approached and embraced them.

“It just is time for us to be pau and move on and raise our families and raise Joel’s kids,” Nonohe Botelho said.

Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima had asked Nakasone to allow the Botelhos to speak to Collins in private, possibly in her jury deliberation room. But that was not possible because a jury was in deliberation. So Nakasone allowed the Botelhos to speak to Collins in a corner while everyone else in the courtroom looked on.

A state jury had found Collins, 33, guilty of murder for Joel Botelho’s January 2011 shooting death and of attempted murder for shooting at Botelho’s younger brother Leon. A state appeals court overturned the convictions in 2015 over an expert report the state did not give the defense before trial that said Botelho, 27, was probably on his knees when he was fatally shot in the chest. The expert later testified to that in trial.

Collins pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted manslaughter and to using a firearm to commit them. As part of his deal with the prosecutor, Collins has agreed to accept a 30-year prison term with a 10-year mandatory minimum.

Sentencing is scheduled for September.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority can set a minimum longer than 10 years before Collins can be eligible for parole. Also as part of the deal, both Collins and the state will ask the parole board for a 25-year minimum. Collins will get credit for the more than six years he has already been in custody.

Collins and Botelho grew up less than a quarter-mile apart from each other in Kaneohe, were classmates since elementary school, played youth baseball and football together and were co-captains on Castle High School’s football team, on which Botelho was a star quarterback.

According to trial testimony, the early-morning shooting happened after a barroom confrontation between Collins and Leon Botelho.