Posted on: Saturday, May 14, 2005

Man pleads no contest in death of pedestrian

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 33-year-old man was found guilty yesterday after he pleaded no contest to manslaughter for recklessly driving the car that struck a woman walking along Diamond Head Road last year.

Andres Paredes now faces a maximum 20-year-prison term when he is sentenced Aug. 10.

Paredes also faces federal drug and firearm charges related to what police said they recovered from his car.

Paredes yesterday did not contest that his car struck Barbara "Bobby" Gallicchio, a 76-year-old Waikiki resident. She usually rode her bicycle daily around Diamond Head, but on March 12, 2004 she was walking along the road near the lighthouse because of back pain when she was struck from behind about 5 a.m.

Based on his no-contest plea, Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario found Paredes guilty of the charge.

According to the prosecution, Paredes had been smoking ice and had been up for a while, became tired and dozed off, hitting a curb near Kapi'olani Park. But he feared that if he went to sleep, police would find drugs and a shotgun in his car, prosecutors said.

Paredes continued driving and struck the woman, according to prosecutors.

City Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro said he will recommend the 20-year term.

In his federal case, Parades told police who arrived at the scene that he had been selling "dime bags" of ice. He also threatened police officers, challenging an officer to shoot him, the federal complaint said.

Police recovered from the car a shotgun that Paredes said he was carrying for protection.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at 525-8030 or kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.