Man is convicted of burning 65-year-old

A Circuit Court jury convicted William Alston yesterday of burning a 65-year-old man, holding four people hostage and assaulting his wife over a 14-hour period in a Chinatown apartment in May 2005.

Alston was convicted of seven charges: one count each of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a family member and four of kidnapping. He was acquitted of three sexual assault charges.

Alston faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. The minimum sentence is life in prison with a possibility of parole, but Alston is required to serve 15 years minimum for committing serious bodily injury to a person over 60, said Jim Fulton, spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office.

During the trial, James Swann, who was leasing the apartment, testified that Alston attacked him with two knives, wounding him on the hands, arms and body. Swann said Alston then poured alcohol on him and set him on fire.

Defense attorney Nelson Goo said the Hale Pauahi apartment was a busy place with people drinking and doing drugs "like there was no tomorrow."