Man sentenced to life in murder of girlfriend

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A man who said that a psychosis brought on by his use of crystal methamphetamine caused him to stab his girlfriend to death in July 2002 was sentenced yesterday to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

A Circuit Court jury in August found Samie Calaro, 45, guilty of fatally stabbing Ruby Marie Mabanag, 53, during a dispute in their Wahiawa home.

Deputy Public Defender Karen Nakasone never denied that Calaro killed his girlfriend. But Nakasone argued that her client was suffering from extreme mental and emotional disturbance and should have been found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

But Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell argued Calaro's mental illness was the result of voluntary use of ice.

Calaro did not speak at yesterday's sentencing in front of Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall.

But Angel Asuncion, the dead woman's father, told Crandall that Calaro should be sent to prison for the rest of his life without parole.

Asuncion said that Mabanag was one of 10 children that he loved, cared for and raised to adulthood.

"He cut my heart, too. He stabbed my daughter 16 times," Asuncion said. "I want this man to be locked in prison for the rest of his life. I know this man for 10 years and he no treating my daughter right."

Angel Auna, Mabanag's niece, said that Calaro's actions ended the life of a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and sister-in-law.

"Mostly, it hurts me because I see my mother hurting every day and seeing my mother reminds me of my aunt. ... She was my mother's best friend," Auna said.

Crandall called the stabbing "an extremely violent act as reflected by the number of wounds" that were depicted in photographs submitted as evidence.

Crandall was required by law to impose a sentence allowing for the possibility of parole.

The judge also ordered Calaro to pay $4,025 in restitution.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.