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Prosecutor, Defense Argue For Bus Driver's Parole

Defense Attorney Says Client Gave Urine Sample

POSTED: 4:14 pm HST July 6, 2009
UPDATED: 12:11 pm HST July 7, 2009

There were some dramatic arguments at Halawa Prison Monday as the parole board considered how long a tour bus driver should spend behind bars for killing a man in a crash.

Roberts Hawaii bus driver Steven Oshiro pleaded no contest and was convicted of manslaughter for driving while impaired. Now, his attorney and he are offering up a different story.

On June 12, 2006, a passenger shot video of Oshiro acting and driving erratically on what passengers described as a frightening ride to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Driving back with an empty bus, Oshiro crossed the centerline and struck an SUV, killing expectant father Corey Voss, 42.

Oshiro refused a drug test and accepted a plea agreement of 20 years with a 10-year minimum. At the parole board on Monday his attorney, Michael Green, said Oshiro did give a urine sample, which was not handled correctly and not tested.

"The police don't test him, although by law they have the right. He's working 100 hours a week. You have another employee who says 'we're all fatigued on the road.' this can happen to anyone, and they want 10 years," Green said.

Oshiro said he was exhausted because of working long hours, but kept driving because he was afraid of being fired.

"I did feel uncomfortable, so I did ask the supervisor if I could take the rest of the day off. I wasn't feeling well, and he said, 'no, we need you for a couple more runs.' he gave me three more runs," Oshiro said.

"When they said you're going to get fired unless you take the test. 'I'll take the fired.' only reason is, he doesn't want them to have his blood. It's not the police department driving that bus, it wasn't Roberts Hawaii driving that bus, it was that man right there who was impaired and refused over and over again to give blood-alcohol samples," Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said.

"We've heard two very persuasive and convincing arguments. This places a heavy burden on the parole board to make a correct decision," Hawaii Paroling Authority member Roy Reeber said.

The parole board will notify Oshiro in a letter, how much he time he will have to spend in prison.

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