According to prosecution documents filed yesterday in Waimea District Court, Ard told police that God had spoken to him, and told him that Kerns was "Satan in the flesh."

"When Satan is in the flesh, he can be killed," Ard is cited as saying.

Ard, a Waimea Valley taro farmer, is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail on murder and attempted murder charges. He made an initial court appearance yesterday and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for tomorrow.

Kerns, 64, and his wife, Claudia, had invited Ard, his wife and his stepson to stay at a cottage on their Waimea Valley property after learning the family was homeless. Kerns, who retired in 2002 from a California medical practice, was described by friends as a quiet, religious man who was active in the 'Ele'ele Baptist Church and other West Kaua'i churches, and was an avid bicyclist.

Family members and neighbors told police Ard was behaving strangely for several days before the stabbing, making biblical references and talking about evil spirits, the court documents said.

On Sunday night, Ard ate dinner with the Kernses. Claudia Kerns told police that Ard made references to figures in the room who weren't really there, the documents said.

At about 10 p.m., Ard later persuaded Jon Kerns to come into the cottage where the Ard family lived. A short time later, Claudia Kerns heard yelling and looked out a second-floor window to see Ard repeatedly striking her husband, who was calling for help, the documents said.

Kerns suffered a slashing wound to the neck, deep stab wounds to his chest and numerous other knife wounds, according to police reports. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Ard told police he escaped the scene by swimming across the Waimea River, and that he hid in brush every time a police vehicle came near. He was arrested Monday in a Makaweli cane field after a hunter helped police track him down.