North Shore man gets life sentence for 1999 killing

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A North Shore man accused of luring a friend to help repair an electrical problem, and then shooting him in the back of the head and burying the body in a remote agricultural area was sentenced yesterday to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

In addition, Circuit Judge Victoria Marks ordered Gregory Peregil, 41, to serve a minimum of 10 years before he can be considered eligible for parole because he used a firearm to kill John Wailehua-Hansen in March 1999.

Marks also ordered Peregil to pay $4,000 to the state's crime victims' restitution fund and revoked his probation on a prior vehicle theft conviction and ordered him to served a five-year sentence in that case concurrently with the life sentence he received for murdering Wailehua-Hansen.

Peregil pleaded guilty in June to second-degree murder for slaying Wailehua-Hansen and told Marks at the time that he had gotten "caught up" in a situation and believed that Wailehua-Hansen was going to shoot him if he did not shoot first.

Prosecutors believe that Wailehua-Hansen, 41, and three other men — Steven Tozon, Tranquilino "Junior" Bati and Paris France — were killed in connection with a North shore drug ring headed by Styran Rivera.

Peregil's attorney, Myles Breiner, said after a June court hearing that Rivera had manipulated Peregil into believing that Wailehua-Hansen intended to kill Peregil.

But several of Wailehua-Hansen's relatives who testified at yesterday's sentencing blamed Peregil solely for Wailehua-Hansen's death.

They said Wailehua-Hansen was by no means perfect, having fallen victim to drug addiction, but nevertheless was much loved by his parents, siblings, ex-wife and children, all of whom hoped and dreamed that Wailehua-Hansen would beat his drug problem and return to being the man they once knew.

"Mr. Peregil took away the hope of ever having a brother, father or a son back in our lives," said Mary Tsukiyama, one of Wailehua-Hansen's sisters.

Wailehua-Hansen's son Bronson described his father as "the best dad who would do everything he could for us."

Wendy Wailehua, Wailehua-Hansen's ex-wife, said she first lost her husband to drugs and then to violence although she never stopped hoping that Wailehua-Hansen would turn his life around and, in fact, had begun to.

She said her five children "will always have an empty space in their hearts," one that will be felt at special moments such as birthdays, holidays and graduations.

Daughter Alexis told Marks "nothing could be worse than to have your father murdered."

Looking at Peregil, Alexis Wailehua-Hansen said, "I hope this man realizes what he's put us through, how many hearts he's broken, how man dreams he's taken from us."

When he turned to address Wailehua-Hansen's family members, Peregil said words alone could not fully explain his feelings of remorse and regret at what he termed "a terrible mistake."

Peregil said he took full responsibility for his actions and thanked his own parents, who were present, for their unconditional love.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.