An 'Ewa Beach man who smothered his wife to death during a domestic dispute Sept. 10 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in March.

Michael Schuette, 45, was originally charged with second-degree murder following the death of his wife Victoria, 49.

He told Circuit Judge Richard Pollack yesterday that he was "very remorseful (about) what happened that night."

During an argument, Schuette lay on top of his wife after she had fallen face-first in their backyard, according to Deputy Prosecutor Rom Trader. He "compressed" her until she asphyxiated, Trader said.

Victoria Schuette was "a vivacious, energetic woman, filled with vitality," Trader said.

"This case should serve as an example that when relationships go bad, that is the time of greatest risk," Trader said.

Defense attorney Alexandra Kaan called the crime "an unfortunate set of circumstances for everyone," adding that Schuette is "very remorseful" about what he did.

Victoria Schuette had a son and daughter and Schuette has a son.

Victoria Schuette had filed for divorce in April and asked her husband to move out, but he resisted that request, according to Trader.

There were "prior incidents of unreported domestic violence," the prosecutor said.

The couple owned four homes and had been unable to agree on distribution of their assets, he said.