Man gets year in jail for assault, dog's death
By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer
A man who beat his dog to death in March 2003 at Waimanalo Beach Park and attacked a good Samaritan who tried to intervene was sentenced yesterday to five years probation and a year in jail for assault.
In addition, Circuit Judge Gerald Kibe, sentenced Manuel "Manny" Kupahu Jr., 53, to six months in jail for cruelty to animals.
He also ordered him to undergo anger management counseling and to pay for the injuries suffered by Edward Van Lier Ribbink, who tried to stop Kupahu from choking the dog, body slamming it into the sand and holding its head under water. The six-month and one-year jail terms will run concurrently.
Kupahu claimed at trial that he was attempting to train the pitbull pup when Van Lier Ribbink approached him, provoked a physical confrontation, knocked him to the ground and choked him.
Van Lier Ribbink yesterday said he suffered eight broken ribs and needed eight stitches to close a gash above his eyes.
He said his wife witnessed the beating and one of his assailants told her, "You're next, bitch."
Van Lier Ribbink says not a day goes by that he does not think about what happened, and that he and other family members live in fear of reprisals against them because he chose to come to a dog's defense.
He said family members "don't even like to drive through Waimanalo anymore" and if they do, it's always with the car doors locked.
Kupahu's son Robert Kupahu, 28, and his nephew Guy Meyers, 40, were each sentenced to 10-year terms for their roles in the attack.
The judge denied a request by city deputy prosecutor Dan Oyasato to have Robert Kupahu beginning serving his prison term after he completes a 17-year federal sentence he was recently given for involvement in a crystal methamphetamine ring.
Kibe said he was greatly tempted to order consecutive sentences, but state law required him to avoid the kind of sentencing disparity that would have resulted.
Reach David Waite at 525-8030 or at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.
