Victim’s dad forgives
her convicted killerThe Tominagas are satisfied with
a guilty verdict for Jason Perry
Donald Tominaga said he forgives the drug supplier who beat and strangled his daughter in January 2002.
Still, Tominaga said he hopes that Jason Perry gets the maximum prison sentence.
Circuit Judge Karen Ahn accepted a jury's verdict yesterday finding Perry guilty of second-degree murder for the deaths of Tracey Tominaga, 37, and as an accomplice in the death of Edward Fuller, 40. Perry was also convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Tominaga disappeared in January 2002, and her body was uncovered in a grave on a Makakilo hillside three months later after one of the men who participated in her beating confessed to police. Perry had said he lured her up to the mountains to scare her into giving him the name of the man who had robbed him at gunpoint of crystal methamphetamine and cash at her Kapahulu home a few days earlier.
Fuller was shot to death on Jack Lane in Nuuanu five days after Tominaga was killed, allegedly to prevent him from talking to police about her murder.
Donald Tominaga, his wife Betty and at least one of his two sons attended Perry's trial daily. He said he hears of families who years later still harbor hate toward others for the harm done to them.
"In our hearts, we have to find forgiveness and we cannot hold grudges against nobody because what that will do is only hurt yourself and nobody else," Tominaga said.
Just as Jesus did not condemn those who persecuted him, Tominaga said, "so, likewise, we have to forgive."
He said that while his family is satisfied with the verdict and feels justice was served, he is concern about the scourge of drugs and the damage it has done to families.
Before the hearing yesterday, the Tominagas spoke to and embraced members of the Perry family outside the courtroom.
"They said they were sorry for what happened, and I told them the same thing," Tominaga said.
Perry's family declined to comment on the verdict. But his stepdad, Jeff Tilley, said as they left, "Get ice off the streets."
The jury returned with the verdict late Thursday, but Ahn asked them to return yesterday with no explanation.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter said the attorneys and the court had to settle a question posed to the jury that would determine whether Perry would receive a mandatory minimum sentence for using a firearm in connection with Fuller's murder.
The issue had nothing to do with Perry's guilt or innocence, Van Marter said. Despite some confusion on Thursday, there was no mistake made by the jury forewoman, he said.
After reviewing applicable case law, the parties and the court agreed that Perry, who was convicted as an accomplice in Fuller's murder, cannot be subject to a mandatory minimum term for use of a firearm, Van Marter said.
Perry, 24, of Kailua, faces two life terms without parole for the murders and 20 years for conspiracy. He will be sentenced July 28.
Juror Daniel Gunderson said the most compelling evidence came when Perry testified that Tominaga was still alive when he grabbed her throat and pressed down.
Another defendant, Delaneo Puha, 24, was convicted last month of conspiracy to kidnap, second-degree attempted assault and hindering prosecution in connection with Tominaga's death.