Darnell Griffin was found guilty today of second-degree murder, but not sexual assault, in the 1997 death of Evelyn Luka.

Griffin, 50, was acquitted of sexual assault.

He was accused of raping and strangling Luka and then leaivng her to die on the side of H-2 Freeway in Waipio.

Griffin was arrested and charged with Luka's murder in 2007, after DNA evidence taken from Luka matched Griffin's.

Griffin's lawyer did not contest the DNA evidence but argued that Griffin and Luka had consensual sex two days before the killing.