Dad found guilty A man accused of causing the death of his 3-week-old daughter more than two years ago was found guilty yesterday of second-degree murder.
of murder in
baby’s death
A jury takes nearly 2 days
to convict Darren Kawaa, 22By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comA jury deliberated for nearly two days before convicting Darren Kawaa, also known as Darren Silva, 22, as charged for the death of Angel Saludares on April 15, 2000, in a Pearl City apartment.
The 7-pound infant died of massive head injuries. She also sustained rib fractures.
Circuit Judge Sandra Simms set sentencing for Oct. 1.
Kawaa faces life with the possibility of parole with a mandatory 15-year imprisonment because of the victim's age.
Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Kim said he intends to ask the Hawaii Paroling Authority to sentence Kawaa longer than the mandatory minimum because of the heinous nature of the crime.
"This was a 3-week-old baby who had her head bashed in for no reason," Kim said. "I have a hard time thinking of a more heinous act."
Kawaa took the stand in his defense and denied squeezing his daughter or slamming her down. However, he gave various versions to hospital staff, police and while on the stand, Kim said.
At the hospital he said he did not know what happened to Angel. A couple of days later, when confronted with the injuries the infant had sustained, he said he accidentally banged the baby's head on the corner of their bedroom door and that she cried but fell asleep. He also said he squeezed the baby's sides and placed her in her carrier a bit roughly.
On the stand he characterized bumping the baby's head as a "minor nip" and that it had happened earlier in the evening, Kim said.
Defense attorney Chester Kanai said Kawaa had made up the story so police would stop questioning him.
The medical examiner had testified that the baby had been killed by someone slamming her head onto a hard surface and that she probably died within a half-hour. The baby also suffered rib fractures resulting from having been squeezed, the medical examiner also said.
Candice Saludares, the baby's mother and 16 at the time, testified she never saw Kawaa do anything to harm the baby.
She said she fed Angel early that morning and there was nothing wrong with her when she and Kawaa fell asleep. She awoke later that morning to find her baby pale and not breathing.