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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:17 p.m., Thursday, October 2, 2008

Teen who killed two Waimanalo women in high-speed crash gets 2-year term

By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tyler Duarte, right, appeared in court this morning with his attorney, Don Wilkerson.

BRUCE ASATO | Honolulu Advertiser

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A teenager who killed two Waimanalo women in a high-speed collision last year was sentenced this morning to two years in prison and five years of probation.

Tyler N. Duarte, 19, under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and alcohol, was driving 80 mph to 90 mph when he lost control of his Ford Explorer and smashed into a small Honda carrying Michelle Benevedes, 39, and Raquel Akau, 38, the evening of Jan. 20, 2007.

Benevedes was killed instantly, but Akau survived briefly, screaming in agony and pleading for help, according to witnesses.

"The screams of Raquel were heard by neighbors and echo today in the minds of family members," Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sheila Nitta told Circuit Judge Frances Wong in asking for a 10-year prison sentence.

Duarte pleaded guilty in July to two counts of negligent homicide and one count of leaving the scene of an accident.

"You fled the scene while my sister screamed terribly," said Sandra Storm-Conway, sister of Akau and cousin of Benevedes.

Speaking for the large extended family of both women, she called the two victims "kind and generous" women.

"You killed all of us is some way, shape or form," Storm-Conway told Duarte.

The defendant apologized to the court and to the family of his victims.

"From the bottom of my heart, I ask for your forgiveness and I apologize to you and your family members for what I have done," Duarte said.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could trade places with them," he said. "I wish that every day."

He said he and a passenger in his car ran from the scene because they did not know they had struck another car.

Wong cited Duarte's age and lack of any previous criminal record in sentencing him to two years in prison and five years of probation.

But she said she had doubts about how sorry he really is about what happened.

In the records of the case, Duarte showed "a lack of remorse which I felt was very apparent," Wong said.

"I heard what you said this morning. I am still concerned," she said.

During his time in prison, Wong told Duarte, he must "come to terms with the horror" of his crimes.

Duarte was a 17-year-old juvenile at the time of the crash, but Family Court waived jurisdiction in the case so he could be tried as an adult.

He has been held some 90 days in pre-trial detention, which will be credited toward his prison sentence.

Wong also ordered Duarte to pay more than $6,000 in restitution to the families of Akau and Benevedes.

Benevedes was a mother of three children.

Her parents, Brian and Yvonne Benevedes, are raising the two younger children, aged 12 and 9.

Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com.