Murderer’s term
extended by 5 years

Keith Brezee, who killed a
15-year-old girl in 1976, punched
an elderly driver while on work furlough

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Keith Brezee tried to rape a Kailua High School classmate in 1976, then beat her to death. Last March, less than a year short of finishing his 20-year prison term for murder, Brezee punched a 71-year-old man while out on work furlough.

Brezee said he wanted a ride because he was late getting back to the Laumaka Work Furlough Center. Something was bothering the elderly man, and he "burst out at me."

The victim, Sophronio Menor, said he'd never seen Brezee before. He said Brezee said nothing, opened the door of Menor's car and started hitting him. Menor yelled to his daughter, "Call the cops, he's trying to kill me!"

Deputy Prosecutor Barry Kemp said the attack was unprovoked and called Brezee a high risk to society, "the same drug-using, woman-beating man he was when he entered prison."

Kemp yesterday asked Circuit Judge Wilfred Watanabe for an extended term of 10 years in prison for each of two counts -- unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and second-degree escape -- to be served at the same time.

Instead, Watanabe gave Brezee, 39, five years for each crime, to be served at the same time.

"Why didn't he get some more?" asked Menor.

Brezee pleaded no contest to the crimes.

Kemp said Brezee was paroled in 1995, but parole was revoked in 1996 after he was accused of attacking his wife and her daughter. His wife recanted her story and later divorced him.

"There's nothing but red flags," Kemp said about the pre-sentencing report on Brezee.

Brezee apologized to Watanabe for the attack. "I never want to hurt old folks," Brezee said, adding that Menor looked like he was going to stab him.

Kemp called Brezee a "dangerous person. ... I hope it doesn't take somebody being hurt before the judge realizes."

Brezee's attorney, Winston Ling, said Brezee will be released in 2004. Ling said the sentence was fair and that the recent crimes didn't involve beating any woman.

Brezee was convicted for the murder of Sandra Damas, 15. Damas, whose body was found at Enchanted Lake Elementary, died of a ruptured heart.