KAILUA-KONA — The mother of a 35-year-old woman stabbed to death in April at a Ka‘u park did not mince words Friday during the sentencing of the woman who killed her daughter.
“She’s a wicked person,” said Karen Boyles, stepping back from the podium in Kona Circuit Judge Melvin H. Fujino’s courtroom as 20-year-old Kaleianuenue Borero-Kaluna of Naalehu awaited her fate. “And, I hope she dies.”
Boyles’ statement followed the judge reminding the mother that he was statutorily limited to sentencing Borero-Kaluna to a maximum 20 years in prison after she told the court Borero-Kaluna deserved life behind bars.
“She killed my daughter. She killed her. I’ll never get her back,” Boyles said about her only daughter, Marie Lyn Boyles, who died April 26 following the incident at Whittington Beach Park.
Borero-Kaluna in September pleaded no contest to manslaughter in connection with the fatal double stabbing that also seriously injured a 36-year-old male. At the time, Borero-Kaluna, was eight months pregnant with the man’s child.
The man and Marie Lyn Boyles were at the park when attacked by Borero-Kaluna with a 6- to 8-inch knife. Boyles died at the scene, while the man, who told police Borero-Kaluna was his girlfriend, was treated at Hilo Medical Center.
In exchange for Borero-Kaluna’s no contest plea, prosecutors dropped charges of attempted first-degree and attempted second-degree murder. Manslaughter was a lesser-included offense of the third original charge of second-degree murder.
On Friday, Fujino sentenced Borero-Kaluna as a youthful offender, ordering her to serve eight years in prison.
Prior to the sentence being handed down, Borero-Kaluna told the court she’s had no choice but to deal with her situation in the eight months since the stabbing.
“I have dealt with my fair share of trials and tribulations and I continue to deal with them daily,” she said. “This one, by far, is the worst. I’m so speechless of my actions, I wish I could turn back time and do everything differently; unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. I’ve grown a lot as a person and learned about myself as well. My family raised me better than this and it’s sad to say I let them down but more importantly I let myself down.”
“And, honestly, I am so truly sorry to the family and their loss. I regret everyday the poor decision that led me up to this predicament,” she continued, later stating, “I understand there are consequences to my actions and I am ready to face them,” before thanking the judge for his time.
Fujino’s eight-year prison sentence was less than the 20 years sought by Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye, but greater than the recommendation from Ann Datta, Borero-Kaluna’s public defender, of probation with credit for time served of 225 days.
Shortly after Friday’s sentencing, Datta filed a motion to reduce the sentence, court records indicate. A hearing had yet to be set as of press time.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
