Jury decides woman’s
death was manslaughter
A Circuit Court jury convicted a Japanese national of manslaughter yesterday for causing the death of a Waikiki shopkeeper in April 2003.
Daiki Iba, 35, was accused of second-degree murder for strangling Michiko Sakata, 44, and robbing her of more than $8,000 at the Seawind Surf, a store she and her husband operated on Royal Hawaiian Avenue.
But Iba claimed he was only defending himself against Sakata, who had been smoking crystal methamphetamine previously and allegedly attacked him first. He claimed he had no intention of robbing or harming her.
Iba had gone to the store on April 22, 2003, apparently to negotiate the exchange of $3 million yen for cash. Iba and Sakata got into a scuffle when he allegedly produced an envelope containing fake money.
Police responding to a silent alarm arrived at the shop to find Iba straddling Sakata, who lay face down on the ground unconscious. In Iba's back pocket was $8,370 cash that he claimed Sakata had thrust at him when she grabbed an envelope that he had brought containing fake bills.
Sakata died three days later at Straub Hospital.
Deputy prosecutor Franklin Pacarro Jr. said the state felt the amount of planning that Iba did and the cause of death pointed to murder, not manslaughter, which is recklessly causing someone's death.
"Obviously, the jurors had problem with his intent," he said.
The Honolulu medical examiner had concluded that Sakata died of strangulation. But the defense disputed the cause of death, arguing there were no bruises around Sakata's neck and that the crystal methamphetamine in her system could have contributed to her death.
Evidence at trial showed most of the injuries Sakata suffered were bruises on her forearms and arms that likely were caused by Iba attempting to pry her arms from around his neck, said deputy public defender Ed Harada.
Pacarro said the scratches on Iba's chest, shoulder and neck were likely from Sakata trying to defend herself.
Harada said Iba, who required a Japanese interpreter at trial, was disappointed in the verdict but is grateful that the jury carefully considered his case.
Manslaughter is punishable by a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment, but Iba is also eligible for probation. Harada said he will argue for probation based on Iba's clean record. Iba will be sentenced Sept. 3.
"I think just the possibility of 20 years is inconceivable at this point, so he's having difficulty contemplating that," Harada said.