Waialua
murderer gets life

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A Waialua man who pleaded guilty to one of three murders on the North Shore in 1997 was sentenced yesterday to life with parole.

Edward Vidal, 35, apologized to members of the Paris France family present at yesterday's hearing.

"I'm very sorry for the pain and suffering I've caused and hope in your heart you can someday forgive me," he said.

France, 19, disappeared along with Steve Tozon, 35, and Tranquilino Bati Jr., 27, in what prosecutors say stemmed from drug-related disputes.

All three men were linked to former prison guard and accused drug dealer Styran Rivera, who is serving consecutive life sentences as an accomplice to France's and Tozon's slayings.

France was allegedly killed so he would not talk about the deaths of Tozon and Bati.

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks said this case was an example of what addiction to drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine, can do.

"The bottom line is, taking someone else's life is absolutely never OK," she said.

Vidal, as part of a plea agreement, also pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy for helping Rivera plan France's murder and hindering prosecution for helping dispose of the body.

France's remains were later recovered from a Waialua cane field in February 2000.

Vidal's attorney, deputy public defender William Jameson, said Vidal took full responsibility for his actions and cooperated with police at great risk to himself.

Vidal was ordered to pay $4,300 to the crime victim's compensation fund and $1,733 to France's family.

Also yesterday, Elvin Leong, one of two men present at Rivera's Waialua home when Bati and Tozon were killed and who later cooperated with the investigation, was sentenced to five years' probation.

Another defendant, Wandall Homalon, who was also present during the murders, is also expected to receive probation.