Posted on: Thursday, April 26, 2001

Driver given one-year term in woman's death

Advertiser Staff

A Honolulu man who prosecutors say drove drunk and killed a woman when his car slammed into the back of her vehicle 18 months ago was sentenced yesterday to a year in prison.

In addition, Circuit Judge Gail Nakatani placed Francis Julian, 25, on five years' probation and warned Julian that any use of alcohol or drugs during his probation will almost certainly result in his being resentenced to the remainder of the full, 10-year prison term that had been sought by city Deputy Prosecutor Keith Seto.

Julian, who was initially charged with manslaughter, pleaded guilty Dec. 28 to a reduced charge of first-degree negligent homicide.

Authorities believe that Julian was driving 53 to 67 mph on Ala Moana on Oct. 2, 1999, when his car plowed into another that had stopped for a red light at Keawe Street. Melissa Ynfante, 23, from Australia, who was a passenger in the stopped car, died of head injuries.

Julian's blood-alcohol level was .232 at the time, Seto said during an earlier court hearing, nearly three times the legal limit.