Posted at 9:54 a.m., Friday, December 16, 2005
Father pleads guilty in daughter's killing
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i — A Big Island man who shot and killed his 8-year-old daughter in Na'alehu in 2003 pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in Hilo Circuit Court today.Douglas John Fathke, 47, told Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara he does not remember what happened on April 20, 2003, when Fathke used a .30-caliber rifle to shoot his daughter Kelsie Fathke at their Na'alehu home.
Fathke was originally charged with second-degree murder, terroristic threatening, attempted murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Under the plea agreement approved by Hara today, Fathke pleaded guilty to manslaughter, terroristic threatening and use of a firearm in a felony, and prosecutors dropped the attempted murder charge.
Under the plea agreement, Fathke must serve at least five years in prison for the manslaughter charge. However, Deputy Prosecutor Sandra Freitas said she will seek consecutive sentences of up to 45 years in prison when Hara sentences Fathke on March 28.
