Posted on: Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Man found guilty of wife's murder

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Kailua man was convicted yesterday of second-degree murder after prosecutors said he "executed" his wife by shooting her 11 times in the couple's carport on June 1, 1996.

It was the second time that a Circuit Court jury found Danny Haili guilty of murdering Philimena Haili. A 2000 jury verdict was overturned by the Hawai'i Supreme Court because the prosecution used hearsay evidence that the court said should not have been allowed.

In December 1998, a mistrial was declared after a jury could not decide if Haili should be convicted of manslaughter or second-degree murder.

But a jury yesterday deliberated for less than five hours before finding Haili guilty of second-degree murder. The trial lasted just three days before Circuit Judge Karen Ahn.

Because a sentencing report had been prepared for Haili following the 2000 trial, none was needed and Ahn sentenced Haili yesterday to a mandatory life term with the possibility of parole, said Deputy Prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado. Haili also must serve 15 years because he used a firearm.

Arrisgado said he was satisfied that the case was "finally put to bed."

"At least there's some justice for Philimena," Arrisgado said. "She's been dead for eight years, and hopefully this is the end of it."

The defense never contested that Haili shot his wife, but defense attorney Sam King Jr. argued that Haili did so under extreme mental and emotional disturbance because she had left him. King said Haili should have been convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which in 1996 carried a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

King, who said he is considering another appeal, said little about yesterday's verdict.

"I think we had a very good jury, and they took a good look at it and that's their decision," King said.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.