Light sentence for Filipino driver in fatal Hawaii DUI angers victim’s kin

Jayson Abad will spend only six months in prison. SCREENGRAB/HNN

A light sentence meted last week to a Filipino driver in a DUI case angered the Hawaii family of the woman his car fatally struck two years ago.

Jayson Abad will spend only six months in prison. He was sentenced to 18 months and four years’ probation, but 12 months of the jail term will be suspended after he finishes a corrective DUI course, reported Hawaii News Now.

Azalia Park, 21, was struck by a car driven by Abad, now 23. She died from her injuries. Park’s family asked the judge for a maximum 10 year sentence, saying Abad destroyed the family.

However, Abad’s defense lawyer said his client’s blood alcohol level was only slightly above the legal limit at 0.089 and did not contribute to the accident. Police also said Abad was not speeding and had the right of way driving through a green light.

Abad, she said, was not charged or convicted of causing Park’s death.

Kawamura said she considered several factors, noting Abad’s clean record and that while Abad left the scene, he returned 16 minutes later after realizing he had damage to his car.