An O'ahu grand jury yesterday indicted a 25-year-old man on an attempted-murder charge in the beating of a man near Ala Moana Center Oct. 22.

Maurice S. Nakama was charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder. He is accused of beating a 45-year-old male pedestrian after an argument at a crosswalk. The man, identified as Murray Wallace, suffered critical head and brain injuries, police said.

Also named in the indictment was Daniel J. Miyamoto, who was charged with hindering prosecution and assault. He was the driver of a Volkswagen Jetta involved in the incident, court documents said.

Police said Nakama was a passenger in Miyamoto's car when it overshot a red light and stopped in a crosswalk at Kapi'olani Boulevard and Mahukona Street as Wallace and his wife, Alice, were trying to cross in the rain.

Police said Murray Wallace asked the driver to back out of the crosswalk because his wife had been told not to get her leg brace wet. The driver refused, and the Wallaces walked around the car, police said.

Without warning, police said, Nakama and Miyamoto attacked the couple from behind.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.