Man pleads guilty in wife's slaying

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — A Big Island man yesterday pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the slaying of his wife in Pepe'ekeo in 2002.

Warlito Gorospe, 41, was initially charged with murder in the death of Gloria Mayos Gorospe, but the Big Island prosecutor's office said his guilty plea yesterday to the lesser manslaughter charge would spare the couple's young daughter the trauma of testifying at a trial.

On July 30, 2002, Gorospe directed police to his wife's body at a home the couple shared on Old Onomea Road in Pepe'ekeo. Gloria Gorospe was in the process of moving out of the home, and had taken out divorce papers.

An autopsy found Gloria Gorospe died of blunt force to the head.

The couple's daughter was 3 years old at the time and was home when her mother was killed, said Deputy Prosecutor Darien Nagata.

According to a statement released by prosecutors yesterday, the girl's therapist "has strongly objected to having her involved in the criminal legal proceedings and testifying at a trial."

Prosecutors had also faced legal obstacles in the case after Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura in 2004 ruled that some evidence gathered by police was inadmissible.

Nakamura ruled prosecutors could not introduce evidence that a police officer saw blood on Gorospe's shorts, or introduce statements Gorospe made to an officer after Gorospe was handcuffed. The judge ruled Gorospe had not been properly advised of his rights before he made the statements.

Prosecutors appealed that decision, and yesterday's plea ends that appeal.

Prosecutors also said the facts in the case support a manslaughter conviction.

Under the law in effect at the time of the slaying, Gorospe would have been found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder unless prosecutors could disprove that he was suffering from an "extreme mental or emotional disturbance" at the time of the killing.

Gorospe faces a 20-year prison term at a Sept. 16 sentencing.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.