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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 28, 2003

No-contest plea in '89 death of child

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fourteen years after her daughter died from a blow to the stomach, a Honolulu woman pleaded no contest to manslaughter yesterday for her part in the child's death.

Hao Dang, 36, who also goes by the name Jennifer Forshey, was originally indicted on a charge of second-degree murder. So was her ex-husband, Chau Dang, a 48-year-old Houston man whose trial is scheduled to start Nov. 12.

As part of her plea agreement, Hao Dang will testify against her ex-husband — who is accused of causing the fatal injuries — and instead of serving prison time, will receive five years probation. She was charged for failing to get prompt medical treatment for the child.

Their daughter, Melissa, was 3 years old when she died on April 9, 1989. Melissa was Hao Dang's child from a previous relationship.

Hao Dang's attorney, Chris Evans, did not return calls for comment. Chau Dang's attorney, Sam King Jr., would not comment about his client's case.

Deputy prosecutor Glenn Kim, co-counsel in the case, was pleased with the outcome. "It is a homicide conviction," Kim said of Hao Dang's plea. "We get a conviction and a taking of responsibility and that is no inconsiderable thing."

The Honolulu medical examiner classified Melissa's death as a homicide. During an autopsy, it was determined that the child had suffered from a ruptured bowel caused by "blunt trauma." It led to acute peritonitis, a deadly infection, according to Dr. Alvin Omori, the Honolulu medical examiner at the time.

"It's a fairly slow, painful death," Kim said. "You don't die right away. It takes several hours."

But attorneys in the Honolulu prosecutors' office initially declined to pursue charges because they felt there was "insufficient evidence," Kim said.

In the late '90s, the prosecutors discovered nationally recognized pediatric forensic pathologist Dr. Janice Ophoven, Kim said.

After reviewing Melissa's autopsy results, Ophoven gave testimony before a grand jury in November 1999 that helped produce an indictment against Hao and Chau Dang.

Ophoven concluded that the child's injuries occurred 24 hours before her death and that if she had received medical attention, she would have survived.

Melissa was living mostly with her maternal grandmother in Palolo. But the night before she died, a healthy Melissa was picked up about 6 p.m. and taken to her parents' Honolulu home, according to the records.

The next morning, Hao Dang called her sister, Anna Gonsowski, according to testimony Gonsowski gave to the grand jury.

Melissa was lying motionless on the kitchen floor, eyes wide open. Gonsowski described Hao Dang as "hysterical."

Melissa died about an hour later at Straub Clinic & Hospital.

Police interviewed Hao Dang and Chau Dang and at one point Chau Dang told a detective that he wanted to make "a full confession," the records also show.

Later that day, acting on the advice of a public defender, Chau Dang changed his mind and said nothing more.

Reach Mike Gordon at 525-8012 or mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.