A 73-year-old Hawaiian Beaches man who shot a Panaewa woman four times on Mothers Day 2012 after she had broken off a relationship with him has taken a plea deal almost three weeks into his attempted murder trial. <\/p>\n
Joseph Amormino Sr., a retired Hawaii Community Correctional Center guard, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts of terroristic threatening. The charges stem from the May 13, 2012, shooting of June Shirshac, a 57-year-old greeter at the Hilo Walmart store, and a road rage incident on Highway 130 as Amormino drove from Hawaiian Beaches to the Auwae Road home where Shirshac lives. <\/p>\n
Numerous other charges, including attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder were dropped in exchange for Amorminos plea, and prosecutors have agreed to seek a maximum sentence of 25 years for all charges combined. If convicted on the attempted first-degree murder charge, Amormino would have faced a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. <\/p>\n
Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. before Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara. <\/p>\n
When Hara asked Amormino to briefly describe the events that resulted in the charges he pleaded to, Amorminos lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa, asked the judge for a bench conference. Afterward, the judge asked Deputy Prosecutor Mike Kagami to state the evidence supporting the charges. <\/p>\n
Mr. Amormino, while driving on the Keaau-Pahoa highway, threatened three members of the (Samson) Peneku family with a firearm while driving on that highway, Kagami said. He then drove to the residence of June Shirshac and Francis Makaiwi, where he shot June Shirshac four times, resulting in serious bodily injury to her. He also intentionally shot approximately four to five rounds into the bedroom door of Francis Makaiwi when he (Makaiwi) was within the bedroom in a bathroom area. <\/p>\n
Shirshac sustained gunshot wounds to both legs, and to her right hand and shoulder. She was hospitalized for approximately four months and has undergone numerous surgeries the latest, she testified on Aug. 19. She testified in court while sitting in a wheelchair. <\/p>\n
Makaiwi, an ex-husband of Shirshac, was uninjured in the shooting. <\/p>\n
Shirshac testified that Amormino arrived at the home owned by Makaiwi at about 5:30 p.m. the evening of the shooting, brandishing a handgun as he got out of his pickup truck. She said that Amormino repeatedly said youre not effing leaving me before shooting her and attempting, unsuccessfully, to shoot Makaiwi. <\/p>\n
Amorminos defense was that despite the shooting, there was no intention to kill Shirshac or Makaiwi. <\/p>\n
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Hawaiian Beaches man takes plea deal in attempted-murder trial<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A 73-year-old Hawaiian Beaches man who shot a Panaewa woman four times on Mothers Day 2012 after she had broken off a relationship with him has taken a plea deal almost three weeks into his attempted murder trial. Joseph Amormino Sr., a retired Hawaii Community Correctional Center guard, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts of terroristic threatening. The charges stem from the May 13, 2012, shooting of June Shirshac, a 57-year-old greeter at the Hilo Walmart store, and a road rage incident on Highway 130 as Amormino drove from Hawaiian Beaches to the Auwae Road home where Shirshac lives. Continue reading