Opinion ID: 1384870
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: application of the controlling statutes.

Text: Based on the statutory language and in light of the pertinent legislative history, see State v. Tupuola, 68 Haw. ___, 711 P.2d 1289 (1985), we determine that HRS § 707-704 is not within that group of offenses subject to HRS § 853-4(1). That is, a trial court retains the discretion to grant a DAG plea or a DANC plea for a second-degree negligent homicide. Had the legislature desired a contrary result, then HRS § 853-4(1) would have been amended in 1980 to have read that all offenses involving the killing of another person would have been unavailable for a DAG plea or DANC plea. Because all homicide crimes would have then been excluded, there would have been no need to enumerate the different states of mind. The legislature clearly did not intend this outcome. See State v. Mehau, 68 Haw. ___, 711 P.2d 727 (1985). The statutory language evidences that the legislature did not mean to divest a trial court of the discretion to grant a DAG plea or a DANC plea for violations of HRS § 707-704. This is the most reasonable interpretation. See State v. Herrera, 63 Haw. 405, 629 P.2d 626 (1981); see also State v. Lo, 66 Haw. 653, 675 P.2d 754 (1983). State, furthermore, has not demonstrated that the trial court abused its discretion. Toledo v. Lam, 67 Haw. 20, 675 P.2d 773 (1984); see State v. Estrada, 69 Haw. ___, 738 P.2d 812 (1987). This case is thus not a rare and exceptional instance where the issuance of an extraordinary writ would be appropriate. Wolfe v. Au, 67 Haw. 259, 686 P.2d 16 (1984) (per curiam).