Man indicted over fatal robbery in Waikiki

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Thursday charging a Waianae man in the death of a grandmother after a purse snatching.

Josiah Figueroa, 24, was indicted on charges of manslaughter and second-degree robbery.

Police arrested Figueroa at his Paakea Road home Monday afternoon for the death of Jullie Stephenson, who was attacked outside the gate of her Waikiki condominium, Tradewinds, at 1720 Ala Moana Blvd., on Feb. 2.

Stephenson’s family said someone pushed her down from behind and took her purse. Stephenson, 52, went to the hospital with a broken hip and internal bleeding. She was in a coma for three weeks and died Feb. 26.

The indictment said Figueroa used force against Stephenson during the theft and recklessly caused her death.

He is being held at Oahu Community Correctional Center.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Crash survivor says plane turned sharply

WAILUKU, Maui >> A police report says a man who survived a Lanai crash told authorities the plane made an “extreme bank to the right” after takeoff.

According to a statement provided to police from a Transportation Security Administration supervisor who spoke with the survivor, everything happened quickly and the man was thrown from the plane.

The pilot and two women working for the Maui County Planning Department were killed in the fiery Feb. 26 crash. Three men who are also Maui County employees were hospitalized with burn injuries.

The Maui News reported Thursday the unidentified survivor told the TSA supervisor that after he was thrown from the plane, he saw two men lying on the ground and two women still in the burning plane. He says he didn’t see the pilot.

Maui mayor to discuss 2015 budget

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa will present the details of his fiscal year 2015 budget proposal at 9 a.m. Tuesday  in the Council Chambers on the eighth floor of the Kalana O Maui building.

Members of the public are welcome.

Arakawa and Budget Director Sandy Baz will be available for questions following the budget presentation.

Arakawa said his priorities include a strong, diversified economy and a safe, healthy, sustainable community.

Associated Press and Star-Advertiser staff