Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
A woman charged with stabbing her husband to death Wednesday in Waianae had a history of mental illness and had been previously confined at the Queen's Medical Center psychiatric unit. Stabbing suspect has
history of mental illnessBy Debra Barayuga
Star-BulletinCatherine Toshiko Nakamura, 68, was arraigned in District Court today. She is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her husband, George, at their Puhano Street home in Waianae. Bail was set at $100,000.
Nakamura has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Doctors indicated she is delusional and does not understand or have insight into her psychiatric condition.
After Nakamura was sent to Queen's in Sept. 30, 1999 for treatment, her nephew John Komeiji filed a petition for the courts to appoint him as temporary guardian.
At a Jan. 5, 2001, hearing, the court granted Komeiji's request to dismiss his petition without prejudice. His reason for withdrawing the petition was not disclosed.
Komeiji had been previously appointed Nakamura's temporary guardian in December 1998, but withdrew the petition in April 1999 because she showed improvement, court records said.
The couple apparently had been separated since August 1991, court records said. It is unknown when she resumed living with her husband at the Puhano Street home.
When Komeiji filed the first petition to be appointed her guardian on Dec. 28, 1998, Nakamura had been living alone at a Hoawa Street address. The couple had no children and her parents were both deceased.
Just two days earlier, a judge had ordered Nakamura to be committed to Queen's psychiatric unit for evaluation and treatment for her bipolar disorder.
Nakamura refused to be taken to Queen's. Police officers had to physically remove her from her home and take her to the hospital, according to Komeiji's petition for emergency appointment of a temporary guardian.
Because his aunt doesn't understand her condition, Komeiji noted he believed his aunt "poses a danger to herself and others."
At Queen's, Nakamura refused to accept treatment and take prescribed medication. As a result, she kicked, punched and bit staff members and other patients, he noted.