Arlene Miske's family misses the homemade chocolate cakes she baked for all her grandchildren's birthdays, baby showers and weddings, among many things. 10-year term urged
in fatal crashCarl Cornelle Jr. pleaded guilty
in the death of Arlene MiskeBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com"She was the center (of our lives), but she made us feel like we were the center," said Maryanne Gaudia, one of Miske's 11 grandchildren who was the recipient of a Barbie doll cake years before Martha Stewart came out with her version.
Gaudia recalls her grandmother's laugh and the way she would listen and make others feel loved. "When she held you, you felt so safe and comforted," she said. "We don't have that anymore."
More than two years after Miske, 65, of Kailua was killed, her family hopes that justice will finally be served today as the man who struck her car head-on will be sentenced.
Carl Cornelle Jr., 43, faces a maximum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty earlier to first-degree negligent homicide for driving while intoxicated and causing Miske's death April 26, 1999.
The possibility that Cornelle could end up serving not even one-third the maximum is difficult to accept, Gaudia said.
Although she knows the courts have to consider the welfare of society and a defendant's potential for rehabilitation in deciding the appropriate punishment, "It doesn't feel right that if you kill somebody, that one year and probation is enough time," Gaudia said.
Deputy Prosecutor Thomas Koenig said he will be seeking the maximum. If the judge decides probation is appropriate, Koenig will ask that Cornelle be ordered to spend at least a year in prison, followed by completion of an 18-month residential drug treatment program.
Deputy public defender Ronette Kawakami said she will ask that Cornelle be placed on probation, but would not oppose a one-year prison term and drug treatment.
Cornelle had fallen asleep at the wheel and was not speeding when he crashed into Miske's Toyota on Sand Island Parkway, Kawakami said. And while drugs were detected, it had been over 48 hours since he had taken them and he was not high at the time of the crash, she said.
Cornelle is remorseful, wants to take responsibility and pleaded guilty to spare Miske's family the heartache of having to go through a trial, she said. He became despondent after Miske's death and has not driven since.