Posted at 5:25 p.m., Wednesday, July 11, 2001

Kalihi bar killing ends in manslaughter conviction

A man charged with murder in connection with the 1986 shooting death of another man was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter this afternoon.

Joseph "Binzo" Victorino, 66, was accused of gunning down Michael Maher, 49, at a Kalihi bar Nov. 22, 1986. But the Circuit Court jury of five women and seven men found Victorino guilty of manslaughter because they felt he was under extreme emotional disturbance.

Victorino also was found guilty of not having a permit to carry a firearm.

Because the two offenses occurred under old state statutes, Victorino faces a maximum 10-year prison term on each count when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Town Sept. 18. Under current law, Victorino would have faced a maximum 20 years in prison on the manslaughter conviction.

During the trial, Richard Hoke, Victorino's lawyer, said that his client shot at Maher in self-defense and never intended to kill him. Hoke said Maher confronted Victorino in the bar and accused him and two of Victorino's employees of stealing items from a car that had been towed from Maher's lot on Sand Island.

Hoke said Maher was abusive and punched the smaller Victorino on the side of the head and then beat him. Victorino then fired the gun in self-defense, Hoke said.

But prosecutors argued that Victorino walked into the bar and slapped Maher twice. Deputy City Prosecutor Wayne Tashima said Victorino then reached into his pants pocket, pulled out a gun and shot Maher in the chest.

Victorino then fled Hawai'i and he was not captured until last November in Kitsap County, Wash. He was extradited to Hawai'i and reindicted on murder and weapons charges by an O'ahu grand jury in February.

Victorino's trial began July 2 and the jury began its deliberations Friday afternoon.