18-year-old gets
8 years for park death

The defendant had stabbed
his victim 11 times in a
Pearl City park restroom

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins has ordered Pierre Taifai, 18, to serve eight years in prison for fatally stabbing Alton Anderson, 23, in a Pearl City park restroom last August.

Perkins sentenced Taifai, convicted of reckless manslaughter, under the youthful offender statute, reducing the maximum penalty for manslaughter from 20 years to eight years. The court ruled that an eight-year sentence is adequate for Taifai's rehabilitation and will not jeopardize public safety.

The parole board will set his minimum term.

Defense attorney Todd Eddins had argued for probation or sentencing as a youthful offender so Taifai could benefit from rehabilitative services.

"This is a guy with a chance to change his life around," Eddins said.

Given Taifai's age and lack of criminal record, sentencing him to 15 or 20 years at Halawa Correctional Facility, where he would come into contact with hardened adult inmates would "irreparably transform" him even more than the actions that landed him in prison, Eddins said.

Taifai's teachers at Waianae have described him as respectful, considerate and hardworking. In custody, he was a model detainee -- he participated in prison programs and seemed genuinely remorseful, Perkins noted.

Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Kim argued for a 20-year sentence: "A life was taken and punishment must be appropriate and just."

Anderson was only a few years older than Taifai when he was killed, Kim said. No matter what sentence the court imposes, he said, Taifai will still have a future.

"By stabbing (Anderson) 11 times, the defendant made sure Alton Anderson had no chance" for a future, Kim said.

Anderson's brother Anthony Anderson said Taifai not only took away his brother, but also a son, nephew and father of three.

"Nothing will bring him back, even if you give (Taifai) 20 years," he told the court. "I have no contempt in my heart for the defendant but he needs to be held responsible for his actions."

Taifai apologized to Anderson's family.

"I'm truly sorry," he said yesterday, choking back tears. "I do pray maybe one day you find it in your heart to forgive me."

In asking the court for a second chance, Taifai, who has been in custody at Oahu Community Correctional Center since his conviction, promised not to "screw up" or appear before the court again.

"That night I had everything," Taifai said. "My future was planned out. ... I didn't know it could be taken away just like that."

During the trial, Taifai maintained he had acted in self-defense when a naked Anderson rushed him in the restroom at Blaisdell Park. Anderson lived in a makeshift hut under a nearby bridge and took showers at the restroom every night.