Killer’s sentencing
delayed till Tuesday

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Sentencing for convicted killer Bryson Jose, 23, was postponed yesterday after he asked the court for a new attorney and the lawyer who had been representing him said he was not prepared for the hearing.

U.S. District Court Judge Helen Gillmor rescheduled Jose's sentencing to Tuesday, when Jose's co-defendant Roberto Miguel, 20, is also to be sentenced.

Both face mandatory life prison terms for their first-degree murder convictions in the killing of Army helicopter pilot John Russell Latchum Jr.

Gillmor also granted Jose's request for a new lawyer and admonished attorney Donald Wilkerson for failing to inform the court of Jose's intention to seek a new lawyer until yesterday and for failing to file a response to Jose's pre-sentence report. She said she plans to hold a hearing to determine whether Wilkerson should receive sanctions.

Wilkerson said Jose told him of his intention to seek a new attorney earlier this week.

Jose told Gillmor he wants a new attorney because Wilkerson did not respond to his request to seek the removal of juvenile convictions from his pre-sentence report. Some of those convictions occurred when Jose was 11 years old.

Latchum's widow, Wendy, was planning to address the court with her two children who traveled with her from Florida.

"I think it's just a delay tactic by Bryson Jose to delay his sentencing," Latchum said. "I'm very frustrated. But I know it's going to happen eventually."

Latchum's son Josh, 11, and daughter Briana, 7, stayed in Florida when she attended the trial. Latchum was brought here for Jose's and Miguel's sentencing at government expense. She paid her children's way because she said she thought it was important for them to take part in the sentencing to bring closure to their father's death.

They are scheduled to return to Florida on Tuesday, following the separate sentencing hearings for Jose and Miguel.

Josh and Briana were sleeping when their father was fatally shot outside their rented cabin at the Waianae Army Recreation Center in June 1998.