Arakawa jurors
to return Tuesday

Jurors deliberate for 7 hours
before breaking for a 3-day weekend

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By Debra Barayuga and Leila Fujimori
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com | lfujimori@starbulletin.com

A Circuit Court jury is expected to resume deliberations Tuesday morning in the manslaughter trial of former police officer Clyde Arakawa.

The case was turned over to the jury late Thursday after a nearly two-week trial. The panel of nine women and three men deliberated for nearly seven hours yesterday without reaching a verdict.

Arakawa, 50, is charged with recklessly causing the death of 19-year-old Dana Ambrose in a car crash on Oct. 7, 2000. He is accused of driving while intoxicated, speeding and running a red light before colliding with Ambrose's Honda Civic at Pali Highway and School Street.

Jurors can acquit Arakawa, or they can convict him of manslaughter, punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment, or the lesser offense of negligent homicide, punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment or probation.

To convict Arakawa of manslaughter, jurors must decide whether Arakawa recklessly caused Ambrose's death -- specifically that he was aware of the substantial risk of drinking and driving but disregarded it.

To convict him of first-degree negligent homicide, jurors must decide whether Arakawa caused Ambrose's death while operating a car under the influence of alcohol and that he should have known of the substantial and unjustifiable risk.

Second-degree negligent homicide is defined as causing the death of another by operating a car in a negligent manner. Third-degree negligent homicide requires only showing simple negligence.

Ambrose's parents, Susan and Rollie Ambrose, waited all day yesterday for a verdict.

While they declined to comment on the case because of a pending personal-injury lawsuit against Arakawa, Susan Ambrose did react strongly to defense attorney Michael Ostendorp's comments in closing arguments suggesting Dana may have used drugs.

"Dana was totally motivated in being the best she could be," Susan Ambrose said. "She cared for her mind, body and spirit and was an inspiration to others. She would have been the person counseling people not to take drugs because it would have interfered with their ability to be the best they could be."

"We feel strongly that Dana had the character, intelligence and conviction to live a full and healthful life. She was filled with natural joy," Susan Ambrose said.