LIHU‘E — There will be at least 30 years of justice for Fredlynn Hoapili. On March 3, 2009, her husband of 35 years attacked her with a kitchen knife as she lay sleeping in their Lihu’e home. He stabbed her
LIHU‘E — There will be at least 30 years of justice for Fredlynn Hoapili.
On March 3, 2009, her husband of 35 years attacked her with a kitchen knife as she lay sleeping in their Lihu’e home. He stabbed her 18 times — driving the blade 14 times into her heart.
Now, more than two years after Fredlynn Hoapili’s death, the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority agreed that convicted murderer Joseph Hoapili Sr. should serve at least 30 years of his life sentence for the crime.
“This means that if Hoapili serves the minimum term, he would be 82 years of age before becoming eligible for release,” an Office of the Prosecuting Attorney press release stated.
A jury convicted Hoapili on March 25, 2010, of second-degree murder. On that day, 5th Circuit Chief Judge Randal Valenciano sentenced Hoapili to life with the possibility of parole.
“I regret every single day what I did, and I have to live with this pain for the rest of my life,” Hoapili said at his sentencing. “I’m truly sorry for what I did.”
The couple’s son saw the attack, according to the release, and called 911 as he helplessly watched his father repeatedly stab his mother in the heart.
After sentencing, the paroling authority held a hearing in December to set the minimum term of Hoapili’s imprisonment. Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, who attended the hearing, highlighted Hoapili’s history of domestic violence and drug abuse, in hopes of lengthening the term. Hoapili’s defense attorney, John Calma, also attended.
“This was not an act of passion,” Iseri-Carvalho told the paroling authority. “There was no love in continually stabbing his wife over and over and over again. This was a heartless, selfish, heinous crime and (the) defendant needs to be held accountable.”
At the hearing, Hoapili apologized, and said he killed his wife because he believed she was having an affair, the press release stated. Iseri-Carvalho said an investigation proved that Fredlynn Hoapili had been faithful, and her husband’s belief was the product of “obsessive paranoia.”
“The defendant’s cruel and callous actions ended the life of Fredlynn Hoapili, a beloved mother, a daughter, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, and a friend,” Iseri-Carvalho said at the hearing. She later added: “We hope that the assurance of the extended sentence will provide comfort and security for Fredlynn’s family after such a tragic loss.”
Iseri-Carvalho said she was pleased with the board’s decision.
• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@ thegardenisland.com.
