Posted on: Tuesday, June 5, 2001

North Shore murderer says 'sorry' to family

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A North Shore man pleaded guilty in Circuit Court yesterday to the March 1999 murder of John Wailehua-Hansen and then apologized to several of Wailehua-Hansen's family members who were present.

Gregory Peregil, 41, told Circuit Judge Victoria Marks 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.

The body of Wailehua-Hansen, who was 41 at the time of the slaying, was found months later in a 10-foot-deep grave near the University of Hawai'i's agricultural experiment station at Poamoho. His remains were identified at the Army's Central Identification Lab of Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base.

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

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

"He (Peregil) has felt tremendous remorse since this happened," Breiner said.

He said Peregil and Wailehua-Hansen were friends once and that Peregil wants the "healing process" for his family and Wailehua-Hansen's as well.

Peregil faces life in prison with the possibility of parole when he is sentenced Aug. 13.