By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© Journal Group Link International)

Affairs that Hurt and Phone Calls that Break Family Bond

C HICAGO (jGLi) -- It was supposed to be bedroom conversation between a man and his wife. But apparently the conversation must have been loud enough that it carried into another bedroom occupied by their son and daughter.

It all started when Zenaida Antonio got a phone call in the afternoon of Dec. 16, 2008 in her home at 496 S. Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului, Hawaii. The caller was telling her that her husband, Joe D. Antonio, also known as Jose Antonio, was going to take a vacation in the Philippines, accompanied by another woman.

When Zenaida confronted her husband about his trip to the Philippines and his companion, their verbal exchanges might have turned into full volume, their son, Jose “JR” Antonio, Jr., 19, lost his focus while playing his favorite video game and instead listened to the heated exchanges as did his younger sister, Kathleen Antonio, 14.

After the arguments, Joe walked out of their home and joined friends and relatives who were having rounds of beer on a table in the garage of their home. After consuming two or three beer bottles, Joe went back home to get some finger foods.

SPECIAL FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

T he ten-page “Special Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law Supporting Verdict” signed Friday (Oct. 15) by Judge Joel E. August of the Second Circuit of Hawaii in Wailuku, Maui and obtained by this reporter narrated that when Joe got inside their home, he noticed the video game cord on the floor running from the bedroom to the children’s bedroom door.

Joe told his daughter, Kathleen, to tell “JR” to remove the cord as he went back to the garage and stayed there for several hours.

When Joe returned home to eat his dinner, he noticed that the video cord was still on the floor. He, then, asked his son to remove the video game cord. But JR did not do so.

Joe, then, unplugged the cord, coiled it, and placed it near the children’s bedroom. And he went back to the kitchen to eat.

“JR”, who was then off from his work at Safeway and would normally spend his time playing video games, approached Joe and told him, “give me my money now, fucka.” It was the first time that JR used such choice words to his father.

Joe, who owed JR $1,400, gave JR about $600 in cash and told JR he would give him the balance the next day. JR threw the money back to his father, who slapped him with an open hand. Zenaida intervened and separated them.

An argument ensued. During the argument, JR picked up and then lowered one end of the living room couch. While walking to his bedroom, JR punched the hollow closet door adjacent to his parents’ bedroom. JR’s fist went through the door and left a hole.

At this time, JR was crying and telling his father, “You are hurting us. You are hurting my Mom.” Joe tried to hug JR. But JR pushed him away, continuing to tell Joe that he was hurting the family.

DEMANDED ENTIRE AMOUNT

At this point, Joe told JR to leave the house. In response, JR demanded full payment of his money.

Joe left the house and attempted to withdraw money from an ATM. But he was unable to do so.  He, then, called his wife, who told him that she had already withdrawn money from their account.

Joe returned home after 10:00 p.m., at which time Kathleen was on the computer, JR was in his bedroom, and Zenaida was in her bedroom, which she shared with Joe.

Joe met with Zenaida in their room. Zenaida gave Joe some of the cash that she had earlier withdrawn. Joe went into the children's bedroom, placed the money on top of the bed, and turned to leave.  JR told Joe that he was not accepting the money.

Joe returned to his bedroom and called for Kathleen. He then asked Kathleen to go with him to the house of his sister in Kihei. Kathleen declined.

After 20 minutes, Joe left his room to get something to drink from the kitchen.

On the way to the kitchen, Joe again noticed the video game cord on the floor between the children’s bedroom and the living room.  He then pulled the cord with enough force to break the cord and then yelled, "I told you I didn't want to see this cord here." JR, still in his bedroom, began swearing.

Joe, then, went back into his own bedroom and unlocked his gun safe in the closet of his bedroom, removed his licensed Colt .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, and inserted a magazine loaded with .45 caliber ammunition.

CONCEALED HIS COLT .45 PISTOL

He concealed the Colt .45 caliber pistol in the waistband of his shorts and then covered it with his shirt.

Joe went out of the front door of their home, leaving the solid door open but closing the screen door. He stood outside the house near the door.

While Joe was outside, JR came out of his bedroom and asked Zenaida where his father was. JR, then, rushed through the screen door, and Joe pulled the gun from his waistband.

Joe did not see a weapon in JR’s hands but he testified that he felt JR’s hands near his neck or upper chest.

Seconds later, Joe fired all the seven rounds of ammunition from his Colt .45 caliber pistol towards JR who sustained five bullet wounds and died on the spot.

Joe, 47, a native of Barrio Butir near Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines, and a pressman of Maui News for 18 years, will be sentenced on Oct. 20. He was found guilty of Count One, Murder in the Second Degree, and Count Two, Carrying or Using a Firearm in the Commission of a Separate Felony. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)