Updated at 1:14 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2007
Man sentenced in fatal stabbing of girlfriend
Advertiser Staff
A 40-year-old man was sentenced today to a life term with parole for the stabbing murder of his girlfriend at her Pearl City home on July 22 of last year.Ronante Aquino pleaded guilty earlier to murdering Zenaida Dumaslan, 39, whose body was found in the kitchen of her Hooli Circle apartment.
Circuit Judge Steven Alm also ordered Aquino to pay $4,000 in restitution for funeral and burial expenses.
City Deputy Prosecutor Rom Trader said the victim suffered 40 to 50 stab wounds and cuts. Her son, then 5, was at the apartment and "probably saw and heard things" that no one should ever experience, Trader said.
When pressed by the judge as to why he stabbed her, Aquino said he was drunk and the victim was telling him "bad words."
Deputy Public Defender Darcia Forester said her client and the victim started arguing about money and their relationship before the stabbing.
"It came down to anger and rage," she said.
As part of a plea agreement, Aquino has agreed to serve at least 30 years in prison before he can be released on parole and city prosecutors won't ask for the Hawai'i Paroling Authority for more than a 30-year minimum term.
But it will be up to the paroling authority to decide when he will be released on parole.
