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Published Thursday October 10, 2002 Aim was to scare girlfriend, suspect's brother says BY SHANNON HENSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

		RELATED STORY
		»	Man suspected of setting woman on fire is caught

Krishna Johnigan just meant to scare his girlfriend when he squirted lighter fluid on her face and body, his brother said Wednesday.

But Johnigan lit her on fire. And Wednesday, four days after the incident, 19-year-old Kennette Freeman remained in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln.

Krishna Johnigan

Johnigan, 22, is being held at the Douglas County Correctional Center on $750,000 bail. He would have to post $75,000 to be released.

The case is one of 25 to 30 felony cases and 400 misdemeanor domestic cases Omaha police investigate in an average month.

"We've seen similar situations, but this one is beyond understanding. . . . I can't imagine a human being doing this to another human being," said Sgt. Charlie Venditte, of the domestic violence squad.

Johnigan and Freeman dated about two years, according to his brother and a family friend.

"They fought quite a bit," said Shawntel Abram, a friend of the couple and Freeman's cousin.

In March, Freeman told police Johnigan abused her.

The two argued on a street corner after Johnigan made fun of her, a police report says.

The fight moved into Johnigan's mother's home, where Johnigan pushed Freeman.

She slapped him.

Johnigan then pushed her onto a couch and yelled at her, until the fight moved to the basement, the report states. Johnigan grabbed Freeman's hair and pulled out a clump.

Neither was arrested in the incident. Freeman, who was five months' pregnant, did not go to the hospital.

That's not unusual. About 40 percent of domestic abuse victims with injuries seek medical help. Those who go to the hospital make up 2 percent to 3 percent of emergency room visits nationwide.

"It goes on every day and doesn't make headlines," said Dr. Bob Muelleman, medical director of Nebraska Health Systems emergency services.

Both Muelleman and Venditte said it is rare for fire to be used in an assault.

The most similar metro-area case was in 1997, when a Papillion woman died a month after her estranged husband set her on fire with gasoline. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Johnigan faces up to 50 years on a charge of attempted first-degree murder in this incident.

Abram said it started when Johnigan came home Sunday morning and wanted the car so he could go to Taco Bell.

Freeman said no.

Johnigan was angry. If anyone else asked a favor, she'd jump, he said.

He went to the kitchen for the lighter fluid, police said.

His mother heard the squeeze and the click-click of the lighter. Then came Freeman's screams.

Freeman was in the tub rinsing her wounds when police arrived.

"He told me he did it to scare her," said Aaron Swindle, Johnigan's brother. "I know this is not him. . . . He knows what he did was wrong."

Johnigan and Freeman have a 2-month-old son, Junior. The baby is with Freeman's sister.