Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Girl recants abduction story

A 13-year-old girl has recanted her story that a man attempted to kidnap her as she walked to school.

The girl first told police a man in a pickup truck grabbed her as she walked from Humu Street to King Intermediate School Thursday. The girl said the man attempted to pull her toward the truck, but she escaped by biting the assailant's arm.

Police released a description and sketch of the man yesterday morning.

But police in the afternoon issued a press release stating that the girl's story was false.

Mistrial declared in inmate's death

A mistrial was declared yesterday in the trial of a former prison guard accused of killing a Halawa prison inmate in April 1998.

Brian Freitas was charged with manslaughter in the death of inmate Antonio Revera. Freitas, 35, was one of several guards who restrained Revera, 26, after he became unruly while being moved.

Prosecutors said Freitas slammed Revera's head into a concrete bench at least three times. But the defense argued several guards were involved in the scuffle, and it was impossible to determine which one delivered the fatal blow or blows.

A Circuit Court jury deliberated for about two days before telling Judge Sandra Simms it was deadlocked. Simms declared a mistrial and set a new trial date of June 2.

Free SAT seminar in Manoa today

Prospective college students and their families can attend a free SAT seminar from 10 to11:30 a.m. today at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Architecture Building.

The seminar is co-sponsored by the Princeton Review of Hawai'i. Call 947-5988.