Brunson gets A man convicted for the murder of 18-year-old Robert Rodemio during a brawl at a birthday party in Ewa Beach was sentenced yesterday to a life term in prison with the possibility of parole.
life for Ewa Beach
shooting
Joel Keoni Brunson is
convicted for Robert Rodemio's
death at a birthday partyBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comJoel Keoni Brunson, 19, was also ordered to serve a mandatory 20 years for using a semiautomatic firearm in the shooting and pay restitution of $10,908, with a portion going to the Rodemio family.
Circuit Judge Michael Town called the case "tragic" and "senseless" and asked where Brunson's parents, family, counselors and members of the Ewa Beach and larger community were and whether they could have prevented the situation. He also questioned where the gun came from and where it is today.
On May 20, 2000, Brunson chose to bring a loaded gun to the party and use it, Town said.
"Instead of shooting a gun at Robert Rodemio, he should have been shooting baskets at the Boys and Girls Club or the 'Y'," Town said.
Despite the defense's argument that Brunson was at home with his mother and younger brothers and nowhere near the party at the time of the shooting, the jury unanimously convicted him of Rodemio's murder. He was also found guilty of two firearms offenses and threatening another person at the party with a gun.
During the trial, the state called witnesses who disputed Brunson's contention that he was not at the party prior to and at the time of the shooting. Those witnesses either lived near Brunson or knew him. A few testified he was carrying or pointing a gun that night.
One man testified Brunson pointed a gun at his chest at the party earlier that night and challenged him to a fight, but Brunson's girlfriend intervened and stopped it. Because of that incident, a group of youths returned to the party with bats, clubs and knives about a half-hour later, and a fight broke out. Rodemio was shot twice during that confrontation.
He had been in Hawaii less than a year when he was killed.
His parents, Roberta and Rodrigo Rodemio, were in the Philippines when he died, as were his five siblings. His parents were absent at yesterday's sentencing because they are both in Alaska working in fish canneries, unable to earn enough in Hawaii to support their children, who remain in the Philippines.
A statement by Roberta Rodemio described her oldest child and how the family has tried to rebuild their lives without him.
"We are working so hard to survive besides coping with the loss of our son," she wrote. "I cry every night and sometimes dream about my son -- he is asking why he was killed."
Her husband still hasn't gotten over Robert's death, she said. "Sometimes he just stares at nothing, like he's losing his mind."
All her son wanted was to study, work hard and help his parents and siblings have a better way of life, she wrote. "Money cannot pay for my son's life, no matter how many millions. Money you can earn, but we can never have my son back. For me, the defendant took our son's life; I wish that he pays with his life also."
Brunson's mother, Leilani Brunson, hugged her son and wept before he was escorted out of the courtroom.
"I know the Rodemios lost their son, but I lost my son, too," she said outside the courtroom. "As long as Keoni's in jail, I'm in jail, too."
The court denied for a second time the defense's request for a new trial. Town said he believes Brunson was given a fair trial. Brunson's attorney, Myles Breiner, said they will appeal.