Updated at 10:39 a.m., Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Kalihi man pleads guilty in girlfriend's stabbing death
Advertiser Staff
A 40-year-old Kalihi man pleaded guilty in Circuit Court last Thursday to second-degree murder for fatally stabbing his girlfriend in July 2006.Ronante G. Aquino faces life in prison with the possibility of parole when he is sentenced April 23 by Circuit Judge Steven Alm.
City Deputy Prosecutor Rom Trader said Aquino admitted in court to stabbing his girlfriend, Zenaida Dumaslan, 39, following an argument. Trader said Aquino had been drinking heavily at a family party the night before the stabbing, which occurred after the couple returned to Dumaslan's apartment in Pearl City.
Aquino turned himself in July 22 at the Pearl city police substation and confessed to the stabbing.
Trader said that under the terms of a plea agreement in the case, Aquino is prohibited from asking the Hawaii Paroling Authority to set his minimum prison term at less than 30 years and the prosecution will not ask that Aquino serve more than 30 years.
The paroling authority is not bound by the agreement, but if it abides by the terms, Aquino would be 70 years old by the time he is released from prison, Trader said.
