Posted on: Saturday, February 16, 2002

Crash jury on holiday break

Advertiser Staff

After spending about eight hours on the case yesterday without reaching a verdict, a Circuit Court jury will resume deliberations Tuesday in the Clyde Arakawa manslaughter trial.

The panel of nine women and three men went home for the three-day Presidents Day weekend.

Arakawa, 50, is charged with manslaughter — reckless killing — in the death of Dana Ambrose, 19, in a collision at Pali Highway and School Street in Oct. 7, 2000.

According to the prosecution, Arakawa was speeding up Pali Highway at more than twice the 25-mph limit and was drunk when his 1993 Thunderbird slammed into Ambrose's 2000 Civic heading 'ewa on School Street.

Arakawa's defense is that it was Ambrose who was speeding and who ran the red light.

Manslaughter carries a maximum 20-year prison term, but the jury also has the option of convicting Arakawa on first-degree, second-degree or third-degree negligent homicide,which carry maximum sentences ranging from 10 years to one year behind bars, or acquitting him outright.