HONOLULU -- A man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire appeared in court on Thursday on attempted murder and arson charges.

A friend of the suspect claimed it was an accident.

Kim Massey, 50, poured gasoline on his girlfriend, Marie Siarot, and set her on fire, according to court documents.

It happened last week in Massey's home in Honokai Hale.

Siarot was last reported to be in critical, but stable, condition at Straub Hospital and Clinic.

"He promised me he would let me go, take him to a drug rehab a month ago," Massey's friend said.

Massey had fallen on hard times about five years ago, Arlington said. He lost his job, and utilities cut the power and water to his home, she said.

Arlington said the fire was an accident.

"They had been lighting the house up with lanterns with gasoline and the room that he went in was under construction. He tripped and fell. She's sitting on the bed smoking a cigarette, and flames just went up," she said.

Arlington was then surprised to hear that the victim told police that Massey intentionally poured the gasoline on her back, face and arms and put a lighter to her.

"I'm not sure of any of that. All I know is that he met this girl a couple of years ago. She was a homeless girl," Massey's friend said.

She said she is sure that drugs were involved.

"I'm looking at him, and there had to be drugs involved," Massey's friend said.

Massey is being held on $100,000 bail. He scheduled to be back in court early next week for a preliminary hearing.