Man gets life
in prison for killing
wife in 1992

William Kotis Jr. was upset
that his spouse aimed to leave
Oahu with her boyfriend

---

By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A 40-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment with parole in the shotgun slaying of his estranged wife 10 years ago in Waikiki.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins yesterday ordered William Kotis Jr. to serve at least 15 years for using a firearm to kill his wife Lynn on Sept. 7, 1992.

He also sentenced Kotis to 20 years for kidnapping, with a mandatory 10 years and five years for terroristic threatening, all to be served at the same time as the life term -- meaning his overall mandatory minimum is 15 years.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado said the overwhelming evidence at trial showed Kotis planned ahead to kill his wife, 10 years ago to the day. "He basically executed his wife."

Prosecutors said Kotis became upset after learning his wife was moving off-island with her boyfriend. He waited in the parking lot of his wife's apartment building and gunned her down when they returned. Her boyfriend escaped.

While Kotis has objected to the way the state has portrayed him, he acknowledged yesterday his role in his wife's death. "I take full responsibility for what happened."

Arrisgado, who had asked the court to sentence Kotis with terms running back to back, said he expects to ask the Hawaii Paroling Authority to set Kotis' minimum at 100 years because he poses a danger to the community. "I will be asking them to lock this guy up so he never comes out again."

At least three doctors have diagnosed Kotis as a psychopath, Arrisgado said. "He's at the top of the scale as a psychopath -- that's how dangerous he is."

Although he was indicted for his wife's death in 1992, Kotis didn't stand trial until last year because he was declared unfit at least five times.

The case brought Honolulu Police Department procedures under scrutiny because of Kotis' ability to obtain a gun permit and purchase a shotgun three days before the murder despite a previous conviction for domestic abuse.