Victim's family seeks donations

The family of former world lightweight boxing champion Andy Ganigan, who suffered severe permanent brain damage from an assault in March, is accepting donations to assist with his nursing care and medical costs.

Ganigan, 57, is in a rehabilitation hospital in Las Vegas, where three of his children live. He will require 24-hour care for the remainder of his life and is not expected to improve, family members said.

Ganigan, a Medicaid patient, was transported to Las Vegas to get the care because nursing homes in Hawaii denied him a bed since older patients were given priority, according to his family.

To make a donation, make checks out to “;Friends of Andy Ganigan.”; Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 894469, Mililani, HI 96789, or dropped off at any Bank of Hawaii location.

The family will also hold a fundraiser at Ige's Restaurant in Aiea, 4 to 9 p.m. June 8. Tickets are $25.

Murder suspect has more troubles

The man charged with the 1996 murder of a visiting University of Pittsburgh professor was in court yesterday for an unrelated case.

Jason Lee McCormick, 36, was wanted on a contempt of court warrant for failing to pay a fine and fees from a 2008 petty misdemeanor theft conviction. He remains in custody, unable to post $500,000 bail in the July 1996 murder of 51-year-old Robert T. Henderson.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner said Henderson died from asphyxia due to assault by hanging and/or strangulation.

Henderson, a linguistics expert, was in Hawaii to give some lectures at the University of Hawaii and to take part in some summer workshops. He was last seen leaving the UH-Manoa campus July 12.

When he did not show up for a presentation three days later, university officials called police and reported him missing. Police found his body in a Waikiki condominium he was borrowing.

An Oahu grand jury charged McCormick with Henderson's murder Thursday.

Prosecutors say McCormick confessed to the crime.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kauai bans use of phones while driving

A Kauai law banning cell phones while driving takes effect tomorrow.

The ordinance prohibits these acts while driving: holding or using any cell phone, text messaging, paging, playing video games and using laptops or digital cameras, a Kauai County spokeswoman said.

Violators will be fined $97 and up to $147 if cited in a school zone or construction area.

Emergency responders performing official duties are exempt as well as drivers using a two-way radio with possession of a Federal Communications Commission amateur operator license. Taxi drivers and others using a two-way radio for business are also exempt.

For more information, visit www.kauai.gov/cellphoneban or call the Kauai Police Department at 241-1611.