Posted on: Thursday, September 16, 2004

Hilo woman gets life sentence

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

A Hilo judge yesterday sentenced convicted murderer Genesis E. Kauhi to life in prison with the possibility of parole for shooting her ex-husband in the shower of her Keaukaha home.

Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura also imposed a concurrent 20-year sentence for using a firearm in the commission of a felony and set a 15-year mandatory minimum term.

Deputy Prosecutor Darren Ching had requested consecutive sentencing, citing Kauhi's lack of remorse for shooting Gaylon Baldado, 51, in the abdomen on Oct. 18, 2001, at her Baker Avenue home. He also cited evidence presented during a three-month trial that Kauhi, 53, hit the mortally wounded Baldado with a stick after shooting him and didn't immediately call an ambulance. Ching said that when Baldado staggered to a neighbor's house, Kauhi told the neighbor not to help him.

Kauhi had testified the shooting was an act of self-defense during a struggle. Ching argued during the trial that Kauhi murdered Baldado because she was jealous of his new girlfriend and feared she would lose his financial support.

Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa could not be reached to comment.

Ching said he was disappointed the judge didn't impose consecutive sentencing, but said the victim's family can take comfort in knowing the jury had no doubt about Kauhi's guilt. "A day and a half for a verdict after a three-month trial is pretty quick," he said.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.