A 27-year-old Kalihi man was arrested yesterday in the stabbing death of another man.

The victim, identified as 36-year-old Otomar Muritok, was stabbed outside a unit of the Kaahumanu Homes apartment complex on Waiakamilo Road in Kalihi Kai on Sunday night.

The suspect's cousin, Anderina Petero, said the victim is her husband's brother.

“;I don't know what I'm going to do,”; said the 35-year-old mother of three. “;They're both part of my family.”;

Shortly before 10:30 p.m., the two men were fighting .

Petero said Muritok and the suspect were watching basketball on TV in her living room when they suddenly started arguing.

Petero said she was in her bedroom when she heard screams. When she went to her front yard, she saw her cousin fleeing. Petero said the suspect lives in an apartment nearby. Muritok was standing, his shirt drenched in blood.

“;He started to fall and my husband grabbed him,”; Petero said. “;Then I called 911.”;

Muritok, of Waipahu, received at least one stab wound, police said. He died shortly after being taken to a hospital.

The suspect was arrested at 6:35 a.m. yesterday on suspicion of second-degree murder. An autopsy on Muritok is planned for today.

Petero said the suspect and Muritok first met on Friday night. She said she had no idea what the argument was about because she was in her bedroom.

Muritok had four criminal convictions. In May 2006, he was convicted of driving under the influence and contempt of court. In January 2007, he was found guilty of first-degree terroristic threatening. In March last year he was convicted again of DUI.

Petero was still in shock yesterday morning as she prepared to go to Muritok's Waipahu home. She said she couldn't sleep a minute.

Muritok became somewhat of a father figure for her children, Petero said.

“;He doesn't have his own children,”; she said as she wept softly. “;That's why he really loved my kids, and they loved him. Now what are they going to think?”;

Petero said she's disappointed that her cousin initially fled. She said the suspect did not have a history of violent behavior nor a criminal history.

“;I just want him to apologize,”; she said.