Self-defense A man on trial in a slaying that happened nearly 15 years ago maintains he shot Michael B. Maher in self-defense and only wanted to talk to him when he sought him out at the PWC Lounge.
claimed in
1986 slaying
An impounded car -- and
a gun found in it -- led
to a fatal fightBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comJoseph R. Victorino, 56, a former scrap dealer, is charged with second-degree murder in the Nov. 22, 1986, shooting. Maher, 41, was shot three times and died at the Kalihi Street bar, which later closed.
Although witnesses identified Victorino as the shooter and he was subsequently indicted, police were unable to locate him until earlier this year when he was stopped for a minor traffic violation in Washington state.
After the shooting, Victorino had apparently fled the state and was living under another name in Bremerton, Wash.
During opening statements, which began yesterday in Circuit Judge Michael Town's courtroom, defense attorney Richard Hoke said Victorino had approached Maher at the PWC bar and told him, "Hey, buddy, I hear you wanted to talk with me." Before Victorino had a chance to do anything else, he was "cold-cocked" with a punch on the left side of his head, Hoke said.
When Victorino went down, the 240-pound Maher punched and kicked him under a table, Hoke said. Victorino, who weighed about 130 pounds, knew he was getting "dirty lickins." So when Victorino saw Maher coming at him with a large object, he reached into a pants pocket, pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and fired in Maher's direction, Hoke said.
A feud had developed between the two a couple of months earlier after Victorino and two of his employees impounded and scrapped a derelict vehicle that belonged to Maher.
Since that incident and whenever their paths crossed, Maher would verbally attack Victorino or his employees -- calling them "thieves" and "scum" for taking his tools, which he had kept in the car, Hoke said.
After he fled the PWC Lounge, Victorino had no idea he had actually struck Maher and was drinking at another bar near the old Kelly's Drive-In on Nimitz Highway when he overheard conversation that a man had been shot and killed at the old Pop's bar.
"He was scared," Hoke said. Victorino, who admits he did not have a permit to possess a handgun, had never fired one in his life until that night.
Victorino had found the gun in an old briefcase that was in the car he impounded from Maher. Because of the confrontational nature of his job impounding cars for the state, Victorino began carrying the loaded firearm for protection, Hoke said.
But Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima said Victorino approached Maher at the bar and slapped him a couple of times, provoking an exchange of words before Maher punched Victorino, who fell to the ground.
After the bar owner ordered them to take their dispute outside and helped Victorino to his feet, he looked back and saw Victorino pointing a gun at Maher and then the flash of gunfire.
Maher suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and injuries to his heart and lungs.
If convicted as charged, Victorino faces life in prison with the possibility of parole. The trial resumes today.