Posted on: Wednesday, July 25, 2001

Former officer Arakawa must pay for own defense

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

State taxpayers will not have to pay legal bills for former Honolulu police officer Clyde Arakawa, who was involved in a fatal traffic accident while off duty last year.

A Circuit Court judge yesterday denied his request to have the state pay his legal fees.

Arakawa wanted Circuit Judge Karen Ahn to declare him indigent so he could receive public money to pay his legal fees. But Ahn ruled Arakawa's attorneys could not withdraw from his case and that Arakawa will not be allowed a court-appointed lawyer.

Arakawa is charged with manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 7, 2000, collision that killed 19-year-old Dana Ambrose. Prosecutors say Arakawa, 49, was driving under the influence of alcohol when his car hit Ambrose's car. Arakawa contends a malfunctioning traffic light at the corner of School Street and the Pali Highway contributed to the fatal accident.

Arakawa, who attended yesterday's proceeding, said he has exhausted his finances on his legal defense and that he's living sparsely, "doing my own shopping" and renting a residence in Oregon. He also spent $800 on a round-trip ticket from Oregon to Honolulu for the proceeding, he said.

Arakawa's lawyer, Michael Ostendorp, said that his client has no money to pay for a defense. But prosecutor Jean Ireton said Ostendorp knew at the outset of the case that Arakawa had $106,000 for his defense. Of that $106,000 — which included sales of two homes and $10,000 from Arakawa's father — a total of $84,000 has been spent on expert witnesses and attorney fees, Ireton said. He contended Ostendorp spent lavishly for expert witnesses.