Man indicted in home invasion

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging an 18-year-old man already in custody for another criminal case with attempted murder in connection with a home-invasion robbery in Aliamanu in August.

The indictment charges Nicholas Nichols, 18, with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, two counts of kidnapping, three counts of first-degree robbery, seven counts for using a firearm to commit the crimes and carrying a firearm without a permit.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan ordered Nichols held in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail. He is already in custody unable to post $30,000 bail for another case charging him with first-, second- and third-degree assault.

The indictment also charges brothers Kevin and Kerry Khamsouk with crimes in connection with the Aug. 11 home-invasion robbery in which 19-year-old Timothy Lapitan was shot and critically injured.

The three suspects entered the home on Hulakui Drive wearing all black clothing and carrying guns, said Vickie Kapp, deputy city prosecutor.

The suspects took personal property from the home and held the people who were there at gunpoint, she said.

Nichols shot one of the victims when he rushed the suspect, Kapp said. The victim is now paralyzed from the waist down, she said.

After the shooting, Kapp said, the three suspects and two others fled the home.

Kevin Khamsouk, 19, was already charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of kidnapping, one count of first-degree burglary and six counts of using a firearm to commit the crimes. He remains in custody unable to post $250,000 bail. Yesterday's indictment consolidates the earlier case with the one charging his brother Kerry and Nichols.

The indictment charges Kerry Khamsouk with the same crimes as his older brother. His bail is also $250,000.

Deal ends suit over vet's death

The federal government has reached an $800,000 settlement with family members of an Air Force veteran who committed suicide last year.

Family members alleged staff at Tripler Army Medical Center failed to acknowledge the seriousness of his suicidal condition. Attorney Rick Fried said retired Master Sgt. Robert C. Roth, 50, was not hospitalized when he made requests to be admitted.

Roth suffered from bipolar disorder and committed suicide last year after he jumped off the 10th floor of the hospital on the morning of Jan. 2. A month earlier, Fried said, he had suffered severe depression and expressed to the staff that he was suicidal.

He requested to be admitted twice. But on both occasions, Fried said, he endured a long wait and was never admitted.

Fried also criticized the hospital for failing to provide adequate medication for Roth.

A medical malpractice lawsuit was filed in December.

Roth worked as a clerk in the records section of the hospital. Tripler officials declined to comment at this time, according to a spokeswoman.

Students hold bone marrow drive

University of Hawaii-Manoa student clubs will hold a bone marrow drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Campus Center for Krissy Kobata, 26, of Los Angeles, who has a blood and marrow disorder known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

A bone marrow transplant is the only cure for Kobata, the UH-Manoa student organizations said. Because she is Japanese and Caucasian, they feel there is a better chance of finding donors of Asian and mixed ethnicity in Hawaii than in California.

Those who can't attend the drive but would like to register as a donor may contact the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry at the Hawaii Medical Center, 547-6154.

For more information on the bone marrow drive, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Free breathing exams offered

Free breathing tests are scheduled by the Hawaii Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coalition in collaboration with Longs Drugs, with priority given to former and present smokers and adults with breathing problems.

Trained, licensed health-care professionals will perform the tests on three occasions:

» Tomorrow at Longs, 47-047 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe.

» Nov. 19, celebrating Worldwide COPD Day, at Longs, Windward City.

» Dec. 5 at Longs Kaneohe.

For more information about the clinics or support groups call Longs Clinical Services, 988-2439, or the COPD coalition, 699-9839.