Maximum sentence in
15-year-old killing

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A man convicted of manslaughter for killing another man in a Kalihi bar 15 years ago was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years in prison.

Joseph "Binzo" Victorino, 66, also was ordered to serve a concurrent five-year term for carrying a firearm without a permit, Circuit Judge Michael Town ruled yesterday.

Victorino, who had been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal November 1986 shooting of Michael B. Maher at the now-closed PWC Bar, fled the state and was only located last year and brought to trial.

STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 In Judge Michael Town's court in July, Joseph Victorino watched as the jury was led in. Yesterday, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing Michael Maher 15 years ago.

At trial, witnesses said a feud had developed between the two after Victorino and two of his employees had impounded and scrapped a derelict vehicle that belonged to Maher.

Victorino contended he shot in self-defense after he had been kicked and punched by the much larger Maher and believed he was being overpowered.

Prosecutors said Victorino was angry because Maher had threatened his employees and called them names.

At sentencing yesterday, Victorino said he had gone to the bar because Maher had been hassling his employees. He added that the bar should have stopped serving Maher drinks because he was drunk and was harassing others.

Defense attorney Richard Hoke said Victorino's health is deteriorating and he will ask the parole board to consider that when determining when he would be eligible for parole.