He remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail. A trial in 5th Circuit Court has been set for May 9.

Costa, 36, said in a confession to police that he gave 18-year-old Jerves a ride from Hanama'ulu to the Glass Beach area of Port Allen on the night of Jan. 12. He said they argued after he tried to collect a $20 debt she owed, and that she pulled a knife.

Costa told police they fought over the knife and that he stabbed her several times in the back before her neck was cut when she tried to twist out of a headlock. An autopsy showed she died from loss of blood.