A 56-year-old man who was about to be sentenced in a negligent homicide case was taken to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center in stable condition yesterday morning after he was allegedly punched and kicked at the Circuit Court courthouse by the father of the victim.

Ceriaco Kasoga had pleaded guilty in December to negligent homicide for the death of 10-month-old Saydee Miller, a passenger in a car struck by Kasoga's car near Waimea Bay in September 2005.

Kasoga was walking to Circuit Judge Richard Pollack's fourth-floor courtroom for the 8:45 a.m. sentencing when the victim's father jumped from his hallway seat, punched Kasoga in the face and kicked him, Kasoga's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Darcia Forester, said.

Other family members pulled the father away, Forester said.

The father was arrested by deputy sheriffs, but Forester said her client isn't sure if he will press charges.

"He's cognizant of their pain," she said.

Kasoga's sentencing was rescheduled for April 17. He is free on $50,000 bond.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.