Maui men sentenced to jail in beating death of homeless man

WAILUKU, Maui — Two Maui men were each sentenced to 18 months in jail in the deadly beating of a homeless man.

Kaniela Dutro, 22, and Kekaimalu Cacpal, 23, were sentenced in separate hearings last week after they each pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of first-degree assault.

The two Kihei men attacked 44-year-old Michael Gray in March 2014 at Kalama Park in Kihei, police said. Gray suffered facial and skull fractures, a lacerated spleen, fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. He died at a hospital three weeks later.

“This was a horrific case, a tragic case,” Deputy Prosecutor Carson Tani said. “No person should suffer this way and die in this way.”

Dutro was arrested in September 2014 and posted bail to be released from jail about a month. His attorney John Parker asked for Dutro to be spared additional jail time.

“He’s made a real effort to show the court and honor the court that he respects the law,” Parker said.

Parker noted his client is working and complying with court requirements.

“I grew up since that,” Dutro said in court. “I try my hardest to do my best. I’ll never turn back to that. I’m truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.”

Dutro was handed the jail sentence and taken into custody Friday. He will also be on probation for four years.

“This was a horrific crime where Mr. Gray was beaten to death, and you were a significant part of that beating,” Judge Rhonda Loo told Dutro.

Cacpal’s was sentenced in a different courtroom Friday. His attorney Walter Vierra told the court that Cacpal has been in jail for more than three years.

“I’ve grown a lot, and I understand what happened was wrong,” Cacpal told the court. “I’m very sorry for what happened.”

He was given credit for time served and ordered to five years of probation.

“Out of respect for the person who perished and just for your own sake and for the sake of the community, you have to make sure that you do something productive with your life,” Judge Joseph Cardoza told Cacpal.