The brother of a 47-year-old man doused with gasoline and set ablaze during an argument that took place in Kaneohe said the victim came to Hawaii from Montana only a month ago, looking for a fresh start.

Tracy Carroll came to Honolulu for a "change of scenery" after their father died, according to his brother, an Oahu man who declined to give his name.

Carroll met his alleged attacker, Joel B. Lonzaga, shortly after arriving, and Lonzaga would invite him to barbecues and gatherings.

"One argument and he snapped," the brother said. "No excuse for that."

Lonzaga was arrested at the scene shortly after the May 7 attack at about 6:15 p.m. at 45-1035-F Anoi Road. He was charged Friday with second-degree attempted murder, third-degree possession of a dangerous drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Wednesday, he appeared in handcuffs and shackles in District Court, where Judge Russel Nagata found probable cause to proceed with trial and set his arraignment and plea for May 27 in Circuit Court. Nagata confirmed Lonzaga’s bail at $200,000.

Lonzaga’s mother, Elizabeth Lonzaga, testified that she saw her son set Carroll on fire.

She said she came out of her house after hearing an argument to see Carroll’s shirt drenched in gasoline. She said she tried to move Carroll to a hose where she could wash him off when Lonzaga reached from behind and flicked a lighter, setting Carroll’s entire body on fire.

"I heard a voom!" she said. "(Carroll) was just standing there. I told him to drop and roll."

Flames reached about 2 to 3 feet above Carroll, causing her to worry that they might engulf her too, she said.

She grabbed Carroll’s feet and made him roll while her nephew doused him with water from a hose, she said. Carroll was left red as if he had a sunburn.

"He wiped his leg and his skin came off," she testified. "I saw his flesh."

Rocky Kahanu, who lives across the street, said while that chasing Lonzaga, he saw Lonzaga throw down a glass pipe and three knives.

Police recovered the pipe and confirmed it contained methamphetamine, Deputy Prosecutor Keith Seto said in court.

Honolulu police Detective Dru Akagi testified that a doctor at Straub Clinic & Hospital, where Carroll was taken in critical condition, said Carroll had extensive burns and inhalation injuries. The doctor said that if there had been no medical intervention, Carroll would have died because of respiratory injuries from the fire, Akagi said.

In a court affidavit, police officer Tuk Wright said when he arrived at the scene, he saw Lonzaga crouching in a stream near the house. He said Lonzaga appeared to be on drugs and he heard Lonzaga say, "I had to! He was going to kill me and my family!"

Carroll’s brother said Carroll is on a breathing tube and "still in bad shape" in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He said Carroll has more third-degree burns (the most severe) than initially thought, including on his shoulder, arm, hand and legs. About 25 percent of his body was burned.

He said Carroll has another surgery this weekend and faces the risk of infection.

Carroll’s two sons, 24 and 26, who came from Idaho to see their father, declined to give their names, but said their father was always jolly and happy.

Carroll’s brother said Carroll cannot talk, but can open his eyes.

"He knows we’re there," he said. "That’s all that matters."

CORRECTION: A witness saw Joel B. Lonzaga throw a glass pipe and three knives while being chased. An earlier version of this story and the story in Thursday’s paper incorrectly reported that the witness saw victim Tracy Carroll throw the pipe and knives.