Editor's note: Shaun Rodrigues was convicted of the Manoa home invasion robbery of Dawn and Diane Sugihara in June of 2000. He was recently sentenced to a minimum 12-year prison term. His family and friends still maintain his innocence. Many people in the community still question whether he is guilty, because of a lack of evidence and motive linking him to the crime. His supporters have started a web site found here: http://www.shaunrodriguesisinnocent.citymaker.com Currently, "Project Innocence," a local advocacy group, is working to clear him of the crime.
Yes, my brother Shaun Rodrigues is an innocent man. Sure the evidence showed innocence instead of guilt. My brother is not the monster who committed this crime.
The guest editorial published earlier by Hawaii Reporter - "Justice Not Served in Shaun Rodrigues Doubt-Ridden Conviction" - tells of a young man with a future full of goals. Some of which he has accomplished, others he shall fulfill one day.
He has never fit the profile of a criminal, be it a first timer or career. He's worked very hard for what he has gained in life, reflections of the upbringing he has had. He doesn't come from a family of law breakers or drug users.
Values and morals has always been the foundation of his life through the teachings of his parents. This is a pleasant person full of respect for the next person. What I don't understand is how our justice system is set up. When questioning an officer in Internal Affairs of the Honolulu Police Department on how our system is ran, I was told by this officer that even if there is no physical evidence linking a person to a crime, that individual can be convicted as long as the victims say that the person in question committed a crime against them.
According to him as long as there is an "eyewitness", that person may be charged and convicted of the crime. Shaun started his sentence in January of this year. It wasn't until May 2006 that the fingerprint lifted from the crime scene was actually ran through the national database. And as of this date we're still not sure if this is the truth.
Jim Borg of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin did some investigating of his own and found that the fingerprint was only ran against Shaun. When he questioned the prosecuting office on this matter (on several occasions), he was told that the lead detective in the case has yet to release the print to them. So I called the Honolulu Police Department for some answers and spoke to a Major on the force who happened to be the lead detective's boss.
After explaining the questions I had and what reporter Jim Borg was told by the prosecuting office, I was told by this Major that he was going to call the prosecutors office and get to the bottom of this. Well 24 hours later he leaves me a voice mail stating that through his inquiry was told that the print was ran and that it did not come up to match anyone in the system. I am having a hard time believing this since Mr. Borg was told otherwise.
Also, if we the family were questioning repeatedly about them humoring us and running the print through the database, then why wasn't anything said to us. I would think the state as well as HPD would want to throw it in our faces that the print wasn't a match to anyone else and to reiterate to us the family, as well as to Shaun that they still had their man.
Hmmm, sounds like something is not right. It almost sounds like something is being covered up here. The bottom-line is that there has been many inconsistencies with this case.
We would have never thought that in our state something like this could ever happen. Thankfully organizations like "Project Innocence" believes in my brother and continues to fight to exonerate him.
Shaun continues to exist through the support of his family and friends. He holds his head up behind those bars of Halawa. He minds his own business and awaits his exoneration. Remember, he is in an environment he has never been exposed to and among people he'd otherwise have never met.
We pray for his safety and encourage him to keep his eyes on his faith.
Reach Kelly Higa via email at mailto:kelly.higa@yahoo.com
