POOL PHOTO BY WILLIAM ING, HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Michael Verece, shown here standing next to his attorney, Brian De Lima, in Hilo Circuit Court on Friday, pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder.

Big Island teen
pleads guilty
to murder

The prosecutors agree not
to seek life without parole
in the plea bargain

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO >> A Big Island teenager pleaded guilty yesterday to the stabbing and beating death last year of a Japanese national who had been a student at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

In a plea agreement, Michael Verece, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Jury selection was to have begun yesterday in the trial of Verece for the Feb. 18, 2001, death of Tetsuya Takahashi, 20, of Tokyo.

Verece was 16 when the crime was committed. He was to be tried as an adult after Family Court waived jurisdiction.

Court records showed Takahashi died from head injuries after also receiving a series of superficial stab wounds. Verece told at least five friends that he killed Takahashi by hitting him with a rock after arguing about money.

Yesterday's last-minute change of plea came after defense attorney Brian De Lima told Judge Riki May Amano on Friday that Verece would say he acted in self-defense after taking a knife away from Takahashi which Takahashi was using to attack him.

Verece was charged with committing murder in an especially "heinous" manner, which could have brought a sentence of life without parole. The prosecutor agreed not to seek an extended term of life in prison without parole.

Under the plea agreement, Verece could still be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison, but with the possibility of parole.

The prosecution agreed not to oppose parole for Verece after 20 years.

Any actual parole would be determined by the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

De Lima said the agreement was reached with the approval of Takahashi's family in Japan.

As part of the agreement, the prosecution dropped kidnapping and robbery charges in the case, and Verece pleaded guilty to a robbery in an unrelated case. Sentencing was set for Aug. 20.