Homeless man guilty of lesser charge in death of John Noland

A 59-year-old homeless man, on trial for manslaughter in the death of former Hawaii sportscaster John Noland, was found guilty Friday of the lesser crime of second-degree assault.

Mark A. Coleman and Noland, 60, were acquaintances and had gotten into a scuffle in Chinatown in the early morning hours of June 9 resulting in Noland falling back, hitting his head on a sidewalk and lapsing into a coma.

He died six days later after being taken off life support.

Coleman was found guilty of second-degree assault, a Class C felony, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment as compared with 20 years for manslaughter, a Class A felony.

After the judge read the sentence, Coleman, wearing a gray sweater over a white checked shirt and dark pants, turned his face away from the jury and looked upward.

Sentencing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 27 before Circuit Judge Faauuga Tootoo.

The Circuit Court jury of four men and eight women deliberated for 9-1/2 hours over a period of two days — Thursday and Friday — before reaching a verdict at 2 p.m. Friday.

Assistant Prosecutor Oksana Vincent said the verdict “clearly shows the jury did not believe the defendant’s claim of self-defense that contradicted the video.”

During trial the prosecution showed surveillance video that showed the two stopping in front of Sunflower Cafe, then partially disappearing from camera view as it is set back from the street.

The video shows Coleman falling on top of Noland, money flying out of his hand, then Coleman apparently punching him, getting up and retrieving the money and backpack.

He then lifts up Noland’s head and lets it drop on the concrete sidewalk.

Although Vincent said she thought the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, “we have to respect their (the jurors’) decision.”

Juror Allison Taylor said, “I really felt that everyone took it very seriously. This wasn’t taken lightly. Everyone took it seriously. It was a terrible situation.”

Taylor declined to share how jurors reached their conclusion.

Coleman told the jury Noland frequented the area, often on weekends, and the two drank and got high together. He said he saw Noland prior to their meeting, smoking crack cocaine with two others.

Coleman testified he went into Maunakea Liquor &Grocery store at about 1:30 a.m. but left without buying anything and encountered Noland outside.

Coleman said Noland snatched $7 out of his hand and asked him what he bought and what was in his backpack.

He told the jury Noland grabbed his backpack strap, then he kicked Noland in the shin when he reached over his head for his backpack.

Coleman said he feared Noland who, at 5-foot-10 and 288 pounds, was much bigger than he was at 5-foot-6 and 135 pounds.

The Honolulu Chief Medical Examiner Christopher Happy testified Noland died of blunt force injury to his head, coupled with heart disease and obesity. Other factors include alcohol and cocaine intoxication.

Noland had cocaine in his system within 72 hours of a urine test at The Queen’s Medical Center, and his blood alcohol concentration of 0.28 was more than three times the legal limit for drunken driving, Happy said.

He also had clogged arteries and an enlarged heart from long-term cocaine use.

Friends and colleagues remembered Noland as an all-around nice guy.

He worked in the 1980s as a sports reporter at KHON2, later hosted his own sports show on KFVE and covered Hawaii Pacific University sports as part of a broadcast team on OC16 in the early 2000s with Bob Hogue.

He also worked at various radio stations.