Murder charge against
husband may be a first

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Star-Bulletin staff

A federal grand jury indicted a 43-year-old Kaneohe man in what may be the first case of murder by omission of a spouse in Hawaii.

Darren Yokotake was indicted Thursday on a second-degree murder charge for allegedly causing the death of his 38-year-old wife by intentionally or knowingly failing to seek medical treatment for her from about Nov. 1, 2000 to March 21, 2001.

Lisa Yokotake died March 21, 2001. Her husband was arrested at that time, but not charged. The couple had two daughters.

Detective Clifford Rubio had said Lisa Yokotake had been ill for years and her condition deteriorated to the point where her husband said he was too ashamed to bring her to the hospital for treatment.

"In my memory, this is the first case of murder by omission involving a spouse," said city Deputy Prosecutor Rom Trader. He said that in most such cases the victims are children.

He would not comment further since Yokotake has not yet been arrested or arraigned.

If convicted, Yokotake faces a maximum term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.