Driver in fatal crash given 10-year term | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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DENNIS ODA / doda@staradvertiser.com

Crystal Afiata, left, supported her friend Tapu Sese on Tuesday as Sese apologized to Juanita and Johnette Colon, the mother and daughter of accident victim Jennifer Parsons. Sese's husband, Pulu, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for killing two people in a drunken-driving crash.

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DENNIS ODA
Pulu Sese is sentenced by Judge Michael Wilson to 10 years for killing two people, his brother, Samson (who was 12) and Jennifer Parsons in another car, in a Jan. 1, 2011 multiple car crash on Kunia Road. After the sentencing, Pulu's sisters, Nancy Sese (left) and Litia Sese talk to the media about how sorry they are for the situation.

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DENNIS ODA
Pulu Sese is sentenced by Judge Michael Wilson to 10 years for killing two people, his brother, Samson (who was 12) and Jennifer Parsons in another car, in a Jan. 1, 2011 multiple car crash on Kunia Road. Among those seated in the court room wee Crystal Afiata (left in blue) supporting her friend, Tapu Sese (who is Sese's wife, hand over mouth). Behind Crystal is Litia Sese (one of Pulu's sisters) and on the far right is Pulu's younger brother, Peter Kautai.

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A state judge sentenced Pulu Sese to 10 years in prison Tuesday for killing two people, including his 12-year-old brother, in a drunken-driving crash on Kunia Road 21⁄2 years ago.

Circuit Judge Michael Wilson also ordered Sese, 23, to reimburse the family of Jennifer Parsons, the other person killed in the Jan. 1, 2011 crash, $5,930 for the cost of her funeral.

Sese apologized in court to both his family and Parsons’ family.

Parsons’ brother Greg Pelayre told Sese that because there is no fix for what he did, he should live the rest of his life in service to others.

"Don’t (throw) it all away in prison and doing nothing. Try to give back," Pelayre said.

Nancy and Latia Sese also apologized to Parsons’ family on their brother’s behalf. The sisters said they have forgiven their brother for killing Samson Kautai, their youngest brother. They said they will help their brother give back to the community and make better choices in the future.

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Prosecutor Dean Young said Pulu Sese’s car was traveling 78 mph in a 35-mph zone at the time of the crash. He also said Sese’s blood-alcohol content measured 0.18 three hours after the crash. The legal threshold for drunken driving is 0.08.

Honolulu police said Sese was attempting to pass another vehicle when he crashed into Parsons’ vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The impact ejected Sese from the driver’s seat and Kautai from the rear seat of the vehicle.

Parsons and Kautai were pronounced dead at the scene.

Sese was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition. His three other passengers, teenage males ages 19, 17 and 14, suffered serious injuries. Sese’s sisters said one of the surviving passengers is another one of their brothers.

Police said the driver of the car Sese was attempting to pass veered to the right and spun into the opposite lane of traffic, where it was hit broadside by a pickup truck. The drivers of both vehicles suffered serious injuries.

The car behind Parsons’ was run off the roadway into a dirt embankment after it was struck by debris.

Pelayre said Parsons, 42, of Waianae, had gone on a drive to clear her head, then was headed to Ewa to visit her nephew, who was on leave from the Navy.

In March 2012 police cited Sese for driving 61 mph in a 45-mph zone and for operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license or insurance card. He owes $259 for the violations.