Posted on: Friday, December 14, 2001

Judge rejects freedom for long-time patient

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

A state judge has rejected a request for unescorted off-grounds passes for a man who has been held at the Hawaii State Hospital for 25 years after he was acquitted by reason of insanity of the 1975 fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old Hawai'i Kai girl.

Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty turned down a request by Abraham Paul Jordan, 56, formerly known as Paul Luiz, who sought "conditional release" status, which would have allowed him to leave the hospital grounds unescorted.

Such status is awarded to patients who have made substantial progress and who are deemed ready to begin a transition toward living in the community without constant supervision.

After court proceedings were initiated in April on Jordan's conditional release request, he was examined by three mental health experts, two of whom said they did not feel that Jordan was ready for unsupervised absences away from the hospital.

Barbara Seibel was killed by Jordan in 1975 after she resisted his sexual advances, prosecutors said.

Jordan, who was labeled a "sexual sadist," was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting four women in 1972 and 1973, but pleaded guilty and was later acquitted on grounds of mental disease, prosecutors say. While on release, he killed Barbara Seibel, according to authorities.

During a court hearing in April on Jordan's release request, a psychologist who examined him said Jordan admitted raping 12 to 14 women, but he said he thought Jordan was ready for unescorted trips away from the hospital.

City Deputy Prosecutor Jeffrey Albert, who opposed the conditional release, said yesterday that other doctors who examined Jordan earlier this year concluded he still shows signs of sexual sadism.

Jordan's attorney, Peter Ross, had argued during hearings that Jordan has a perfect hospital record, has participated in all the programs the hospital has to offer, and is no longer mentally ill or a danger to society.

In his written order, however, Graulty said Jordan "failed to meet the burden of proof" that he is no longer mentally ill and is no longer dangerous.