The man convicted for a double-fatal car crash that killed a couple and permanently brain damaged their son will return to Kaua‘i next week to ask for a reduced sentence. Jameel Ramirez, 21, had been sentenced by Judge Kathleen Watanabe
The man convicted for a double-fatal car crash that killed a couple and permanently brain damaged their son will return to Kaua‘i next week to ask for a reduced sentence.
Jameel Ramirez, 21, had been sentenced by Judge Kathleen Watanabe in May to two 10-year sentences to be run concurrently for the deaths of Helene “Lei” Nuesca and Louis Nuesca. In addition, Ramirez was sentenced to a one-year sentence for the injuries endured by Robert Nuesca, their son who is now a paraplegic with brain damage, totaling a term of 11 years behind bars.
Ramirez, who is a newly wed with a toddler, cites hardship as the reason for the request for a shorter sentence.
But nearly two years since the crash, the Nuesca family also has hardships, as Robert a father of four and former coach, remains at home, being cared for by his wife of nearly two decades.
Mercedes Nuesca, Robert’s wife, had told Watanabe that she and her husband “Were supposed to grow old together. Now I take care of him and try to make normalcy of what we have left.”
Ramirez’ punishment was imposed by Watanabe based on the two vehicular homicide charges and one count of negligent injury for which he was convicted.
Witnesses and police reports claimed that on Oct. 31, 2005, Ramirez had been driving recklessly fast, weaving in and out of traffic. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Marc Guyot had said during the sentencing hearing that Ramirez had been cited on at least two separate occasions for speeding.
In the moments before her life was cut short, Helene Nuesca was talking on the phone with her sister, Sharon Salvador, when the line of communication cut off.
Salvador testified in court that the final words she heard her sister say were, “Oh baby,” likely in anticipation of the crash.
Both Salvador’s parents died from injuries sustained in the two-car accident on Kuhio Highway near Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Helene Nuesca died instantly. Her husband died 34 days later.
Danette Nuesca, Helene’s eldest child, said she and other family members flew to O‘ahu for Ramirez’s parole hearing. That’s when she discovered he was asking for less time. Ramirez is doing time at Halawa Correctional Facility.
“I thought it was finished,” Dannette Nuesca said. “It’s just bringing it all back up. Here it’s October again and it was that October two years ago that (my parents) died.
Dannette Nuesca said she plans to attend Ramirez’s next hearing, scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in courtroom 6.
