Kauhi testified she shot Baldado, 51, in self-defense, but prosecutors contend Baldado was shot while standing in the shower. Prosecutors also presented evidence in the trial that Baldado was discussing plans for a new life with a girlfriend he met while working on Johnston Atoll.

In tearful testimony yesterday, Kauhi said she and Baldado made love and showered together at her Baker Avenue home in the early morning hours of Oct. 18, 2001, and said Baldado stepped out of the shower first.

When Kauhi moved the shower curtain moments later to look out, she said she saw Baldado standing naked in the bathroom with a pistol in his right hand and an "evil" look on his face.

Kauhi testified she lunged out of the shower and went for Baldado's legs in an attempt to get the gun away from him, and in the struggle that followed Baldado dropped the gun in the hallway outside the bathroom and ended up back in the shower.

"It happened so fast I wasn't thinking," she said. "When I turned around and I saw the gun, I just picked it up and I shot him."

Under questioning by Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa, Kauhi said she shot him "so I would stop him," and so Baldado wouldn't shoot her.

Baldado was struck in the abdomen, and died later that day at Hilo Medical Center.

Kauhi also described the confused aftermath of the shooting in which Baldado ended up with the pistol. Kauhi testified she offered to call police, but didn't call right away because she said Baldado wanted her to take him to the hospital.

Baldado went to Kauhi's truck, but Kauhi said she didn't have the keys, so she returned to the house. Once inside the house she said she "blacked out." She testified that when she regained consciousness, she could hear Baldado yelling for help outside.

Kauhi testified she put some clothes on and went back outside to help, and ended up falling on Baldado in the dark. When neighbors turned on a light, Kauhi said she warned them not to come outside because she wasn't sure if Baldado still had the gun.

She later returned to her house and called police.

Kauhi acknowledged she made incorrect statements to police after the shooting, including telling an officer that the couple had not argued when in fact they had a "small argument" before the shooting, she testified.

She also acknowledged she told police she hit Baldado with a chair during a struggle, when in fact she did not.

"I was so confused and my head was hurting and pounding," she said. "Whatever popped into my mind came out of my mouth."

Deputy Prosecutor Darren Ching questioned Kauhi yesterday about her spending habits in the months before the shooting, with Kauhi acknowledging she had lost her job, carried debt on five credit cards and spent thousands of dollars Baldado had sent to her from Johnston Atoll.

Prosecutors have also presented evidence during the trial that Kauhi inquired about the proceeds of Baldado's life insurance policy after his death.