WAIMEA, Hawaii >> The wife of the Hawaii island man charged with manslaughter in the death of his 3-year-old niece says he was giving the girl a bath and left, then returned to find her “partially submerged” and making a “gurgling” sound.

Ezekiel Wakinekona is being held on $500,000 in connection with the death of Marley Makanani who was living with him in Waimea. 

West Hawaii Today reports his wife, Kahealani Wakinekona, testified at his preliminary hearing Thursday they tried to drive her to a hospital but stopped at a fire station when the girl stopped breathing.

Emergency Services Director Jerry Goldberg testified Marley had injuries including bruises all over her body, a burn with blisters on her chest and a cut on her groin area.

Wakinekona returns to court Feb. 2