Emanuelu Tunoa's defense was that he had passed out from drinking beer and did not shoot Tuputala Esau, 21, in Waipahu on March 29, 2003, but the prosecution produced four witnesses who said Tunoa fired the shots.

A Circuit Court jury deliberated for about two full days before finding Tunoa guilty of the murder and a related firearms charge.

Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto scheduled Tunoa's sentencing for Jan. 10.

Tunoa faces a mandatory life term with parole, but city Deputy Prosecutor Albert Cook said he will seek an enhanced sentence of life without parole.

Cook cited Tunoa's assault conviction in the beating death of 17-year-old Misiona Faumuina in Waipahu in 1995 and said Tunoa poses a danger in the community.