Manslaughter charge filed in Nanakuli death

The man accused of running over and killing a woman at the drive-through window of a fast-food restaurant is facing manslaughter and other charges instead of negligent homicide.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Albert Birmingham, 36, with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a serious accident, consuming or possessing alcohol while operating a vehicle and driving with a revoked license. He remains in custody unable to post bail.

Police said Birmingham struck and ran over 20-year-old Raelynn Adams with a sport utility vehicle early Sunday during an argument at the McDonald's in Nanakuli.

His blood-alcohol content was 0.132 at the time of his arrest, said Vickie Kapp, deputy prosecutor.

Birmingham's driver's license was revoked when police stopped him for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant Nov. 19, 2008. However, he avoided arrest until Sunday.

Lawai man, 31, charged in fatal Kauai accident

A 31-year-old Lawai, Kauai, man was arrested and charged in connection with a fatal crash that killed a 32-year-old Kapaa man last month.

Norman Bukoski Jr. was charged Wednesday with drunken driving, first-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury, a Kauai County news release said.

Police said Bukoski's pickup truck crossed the center line on Kaumualii Highway at about 10:15 p.m. Jan. 19 and slammed head-on into a truck driven by Tomas Garcia.

Garcia was killed and his 27-year-old passenger was injured. It was Kauai's first traffic fatality of the year.

Bukoski was alone in his pickup.

Cause of Tantalus fire remains undetermined

Honolulu fire investigators were unable to determine the cause of a fire that caused $650,000 in damage to a home at 2182 Round Top Drive Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was reported at 12:18 p.m., brought under control at 12:51 p.m. and extinguished at 2:05 p.m.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said the cause of the fire is listed as “;undetermined.”;

The home was being rented by a couple while their home was being renovated. They were not home at the time the blaze started.

Brother refuses charges against sister in stabbing

Police arrested a 43-year-old Makiki woman who allegedly stabbed her brother at his Kalihi home, but the man later refused to support charges against her.

The woman and her 50-year-old brother got into an argument at his home Wednesday morning, police said. The woman got a knife and allegedly stabbed him in the right arm three times, causing superficial injury.

The woman fled, and police found her near the home. They arrested her on suspicion of second-degree assault.

The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment and was released, but he withdrew his complaint later, police said.

Kau man missing since Wednesday is found

Hawaii County police located a 48-year-old Kau man who was reported missing from the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision.

George Moniz Jr. left his home on Aloha Boulevard at about 3 p.m. Wednesday and failed to return home. Police said he has a condition that requires medication.

Moniz was found safe at 1:30 p.m. yesterday, police said.

Chain-link gates stolen from Volcano dump

Big Island police are investigating a theft this week at the Volcano trash dump. The thief or thieves stole four galvanized chain-link gates sometime between Monday and Wednesday, police said. The gates are 6 feet high by 11 feet long and are valued at $4,500.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call the Police Department's nonemergency line at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Jury convicts man in killing on Big Island

HILO >> A Big Island jury has convicted a man of second-degree murder for a fatal shooting in 2007.

Malaki McBride was 17 years old when he killed Tyrone Torres in Nanawale Estates.

Defense attorney Kay Iopa said McBride was under extreme mental and emotional distress when he shot Torres. She asked the jury to convict her client of the lesser offense of manslaughter.

Prosecutors portrayed McBride as someone in control of himself as he methodically searched for Torres so he could kill him. The defense said McBride had no plan and was only searching for his girlfriend, Adri Sabaratnam.

After the shooting, McBride drove Sabaratnam's car to Waa Waa and set fire to the vehicle with Torres' body inside.

The jury reached its verdict Wednesday after closing arguments were delivered Monday.