Arsonist in Kalihi blaze acquitted due to insanity

A 58-year-old man who set fire to a Kalihi Valley tenement house in January, killing a fellow resident, is not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

State Circuit Judge Glenn Kim handed down the not-guilty verdict Wednesday in the nonjury murder trial of Daniel Manuel.

Ruben Balintona, 51, died from burns he suffered in the Jan. 9 fire at 2934 Kalihi St.

Manuel does not dispute police and witness reports that he started the fire that killed Balintona. For his defense, he relied on the reports and testimony of the three mental health experts who were appointed by the court to examine him. Two of the three experts said Manuel was clearly suffering from a mental defect, disease or disorder on Jan. 9 and is therefore not criminally responsible for his actions on that date.

His lawyer, Walter Rodby, said Manuel has a lifelong history of mental issues for which he takes medication, but that he ran out because his prescription expired.

After finding him not guilty, Kim ordered Manuel into the custody of the state health director for placement in the Hawaii State Hospital, after finding that Manuel poses a danger to himself and others.

Rodby says Manuel is extremely sorry for what he did.

“In fact, he wrote some letters apologizing to the victim’s family,” Rodby said.

Manuel did not get the opportunity to apologize or read the letters in court because his defense strategy didn’t call for him to testify. And because he was found not guilty, there is no sentencing hearing during which he would have been able to make a statement.

There were no Balintona family members in court when Kim handed down his verdict.

Twenty-two people, most or all residents, were in the Kalihi Street house when it burned. All but Balintona, who was asleep, escaped the fire.

Police said Manuel used cooking oil and a lighter to set two fires. His roommate quickly put out the first one, which was on a pillow. Manuel then set the second fire in the hallway next to his bedroom door then fled. A witness and firefighters detained him until police arrived.