Posted on: Friday, May 31, 2002
Kaua'i killer given life term, no parole
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — An unrepentant Howard Giddens was sentenced to life in prison without parole yesterday for killing one man and injuring another in a Sept. 18, 2000, shooting rampage.
In a rambling statement to the court, Giddens, 29, said that he understands it was against the law, but continues to believe he acted appropriately to protect his family.
Giddens had sent his girlfriend and son away before unleashing a barrage of gunfire that shattered windows and pockmarked cars and homes in his Hanama'ulu neighborhood.
He fired at a passing pickup truck at nearby Hanama'ulu Beach Park, injuring Nelson Cuba, then returned to his home on Ho'ohana Street, walked next door and fired several blasts from a shotgun into Colan Fernandez, 42, who was sitting in his garage waiting for a ride to work.
Giddens didn't know either of the victims.
Fernandez's son, Colan Fernandez Jr., said the family continues to be shocked at Giddens' lack of remorse. The life sentence is a kind of relief, but "it doesn't solve anything for us," he said.
At his trial, Giddens displayed a rampant paranoia, accusing his neighbors of spying on him. His attorney, James Itamura, told the court yesterday that the man needed counseling.
Giddens himself conceded that he "built a delusional world around myself."
The defense had argued he was mentally ill, but most of the specialists who examined him said much of Giddens' paranoia and other symptoms were drug-related.
Prosecutor Michael Soong said the man's mental problems were associated with the use of crystal methamphetamine. Giddens denied it, saying his mental condition was unrelated to drug abuse.
"It was only a matter of time before I did something like that," he said.
Circuit Judge Clifford Nakea sentenced Giddens to three life terms, one of them without parole, and three shorter prison terms, all to be served concurrently.
He was convicted of attempted murder in the first degree, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, improperly keeping a loaded firearm, reckless endangering and criminal property damage.
"There is no question in my mind that your use of methamphetamines contributed" to Giddens' behavior, Nakea said.
During the hearing, the defendant paid special attention to a television news camera in the courtroom. As he walked to the podium, he said: "I'm pissed off at the camera guys. They think I'm a cold-blooded killer. I'm not."
Later, he turned to the cameras again with a message to his young son: "I love you, son."
His son, who was in the courtroom during the sentencing, ran down the hall and out of the courthouse afterwards, his eyes blurred with tears.
