Opinion ID: 2601981
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Closing Arguments and the Verdict

Text: During closing arguments, the prosecution contended that: If, um, [Roman] even attempts to raise the parental discipline defense, one, I do not think it applies in this case. Um, the victim testified that[,] when his mother disciplines him, she spanks him on his rear end. She doesn't kick him in the back, she doesn't slap him in the face. Also, your Honor, if you take the age of the child, at the time 17 years old, um, I do not believe the misconduct of the child, if there is even any misconduct, he attempted to grate the cheese, [Roman] didn't like the way he did, [Roman] told him to go and sit down, he did exactly what he was told to do so I don't see any misconduct on the part of the child here. Defense counsel, however, argued that: Basically, your Honor, this is a fabrication of a child who does not want to be disciplined. At 17 years old, it's pretty hard to spank a child on the bottom. Mr. Roman was the man of the household, the head of the house, in essence, the parent. The [m]other was sleeping, he had asked the son to help with the meal. The son was defiant, refused to do what he was being asked. The son's face was red. His face was red today. He has a reddy complexion. Perhaps a small welt showed up but had Mr. Roman intended to hurt him, there would have been much more than a welt showing up. .... ... HRS § 703-309[] permits the use of physical force to punish a minor child for his or her misconduct and to deter that minor from future misconduct. A parent's use of physical force to punish or deter, therefore, is not subject to criminal liability provided it is reasonably related to the welfare of the minor and within the scope of allowable physical force under the [s]tatute. Although the use of physical force of the child rearing method may engender debate, it is an option parents are free to employ within the bounds of the [s]tatute. Your Honor, there was no evidence that night that the child was repeatedly beaten.... I would argue, your Honor, that this was just a measure of Mr. Roman trying to discipline [Minor] when he was defiant and refused to comply with his [request].[ [7] ] On rebuttal argument, the prosecution again reiterated that, in its view, the parental discipline defense was inapplicable to the instant case, arguing that kicking the child and slapping a child in the face is not reasonably related to his misconduct[.] Subsequently, the family court orally announced its factual findingsspecifically that: We have a situation where, um, both adults have had prior relationships and, uh, both adults meaning Mr. Roman and [Mother] and that they entered into a relationship with fairly grown children involved and, uh, it has been in such situations, a situation where people have to adjust to a whole lot and this adjustment process is quite difficult for everyone involved[.] Alfred Roman is a fairly large person and his manner and demeanor is quite masculine and I think he has that sense of being in charge sort [sic] to speak. The [c]ourt doesn't know [Mother] but the [c]ourt senses that she had custody of the [Minor] and the relationship between [Roman] and [Mother] necessarily involved [Minor]. Um, the [c]ourt also, uh, gained from the testimony that [Minor], uh, had some emotional problems, whether they're related to the divorce or not, the [c]ourt doesn't know that, but he did have some problems and, uh, had to, had to be treated, perhaps, as a special needs type of person and, therefore, uh, was someone whose guidance and discipline had to take a different [indiscernible]different in the sense that not the, not the usual, uh, upbringing and the [c]ourt also senses that Mr. Roman recognized this and took steps to take care of the situation and that's how we got Dr. Williams involved in this picture.... With respect to this particular day, ... that is the date of May 12, 2002, ... Mr. Roman, uh, wanted to have this special day for [Mother] and had expected that [Minor] would participate in this special occasion for [m]om and [m]om was asked to take it easy and rest and that the evening meal would be prepared by Mr. Roman and [Minor]. Um, the incident that transpired, uh, was not, in the [c]ourt's estimation, an incident where there was misconduct on the part of [Minor]. I think Mr. Roman wanted him towanted [Minor] to participate in this special day for [m]other and, uh, wanted to have some kind of influence in providing [Minor] with some kind of incentive to help make this special day for [m]om and, uh, unfortunately, uh, thus intent to provide motivation and create a situation where, uh, mom is treated specially not only by Alfred Roman but also by [Minor]. Um, turned out to be a situation where Mr. Roman tried to gain control over the situation. It escalated to that point where we want you to take part and it got to a point where, uh, I'm going to make you take part in this situation. Um, with respect to, uh, what happened that day, uh, the [c]ourt recognizes that there are these many, many factors involved and I think the [c]ourt has pointed out that we're dealing with a situation where [sic] not dealing with someone who has done something wrong, we're dealing with something, somebody who has not done something as requested for this special day. In other words, you know, there's not [indiscernible] you're a dishonesty [sic] or what, it's just that inaction on the part of [Minor] so I'm pointing that out because, uh, we come to the area of parental discipline where discipline is to correct misbehavior and, uh, as the [c]ourt sees it, we're not in a situation where we're correcting misbehavior but we're trying to take control of the situation where we're not having cooperation. Uh, now, the, uh, other aspect of this case, which the [c]ourt has alluded to when we talked about control, is that at one point there was a kick, uh, that was to get attention, and at another point, there was a slap, uh, and that was, as the [c]ourt understands the  at least from one perspective, a reaction to what was deemed to be defiance. Now, uh, whether the defiance justifies the slapping is a matter for the [c]ourt. We know that at this point there was a high level of emotion. [Minor] was kicked, he stood up, he stared at Mr. Roman, he had his fists clenched, and Mr. Roman, uh, was also at a high pitch of emotion and took this to be a defiant child, probably with the head phones still on and blaring, and not giving heed to what Mr. Roman had expected and, uh, there was such a fever of emotion that Mr. Roman even said words to the effect that if you like, you can hit me or something to that effect, inviting a confrontation. There may be justification for the reaction and at this point, we have, uh, Mother who is on the scene, and, uh, becoming part of what I'll relate to as a fracas that this physical confrontation and the [c]ourt is satisfied this confrontation involved three people, that it was physical, that there was a point that Mr. Roman put his hands on [Minor]'s neck, and there was a point where [Mother] also physically was man handled or struck by Mr. Roman. (Emphases added.) The family court, thereafter, ruled that the parental discipline defense did not apply to the above facts because [i]t was a situation where Mr. Roman tried to assert control over the situation and did not get his way. Consequently, the family court found Roman guilty of abuse of family or household members, reasoning that: What the [c]ourt has noted is that [Roman] is not denying in any way that he had kicked, that he testified that he had kicked the child, and I won't call him a child, the 17 year old boy, and he had slapped the boy. Um, and the [c]ourt further finds that those actions were done in anger, first with respect to getting the child's attention and secondly, ... in reaction to the boy's defiance. The family court sentenced Roman to, inter alia, two years probation and fifteen days imprisonment, thirteen days of which would be stayed pending the probationary period. [8] The family court entered its written judgment on December 26, 2003. Roman filed a timely notice of appeal on January 23, 2004. Roman's sentence was stayed pending appeal.