In an unusual move, a 49-year-old man pleaded no contest yesterday to the brutal beating death of a Kapahulu woman in April 2004 and now faces the state's harshest punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ronald J. Howe had pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree murder and prospective jurors had gathered outside the courtroom yesterday morning as Howe's trial was set to begin. But Howe told Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario he had changed his mind and wanted to take responsibility for his actions, even though his attorney advised against it.

"I've never heard of this ever happening before with somebody pleading like this," said Deputy Public Defender Walter Rodby, Howe's attorney. "There's no plea agreement. He's not asking for any favors. He took full responsibility."

Howe pleaded no contest to the April 23, 2004, murder of Robyn Mae Nakaji. The body of the 46-year-old woman was found wrapped in a blanket and tarp near the entrance to a farm on Old Fort Weaver Road.

Nakaji's head, mouth and hands were bound with tape and prosecutors said Howe told police he also cut her throat.

Prosecutors would have sought a life sentence in prison without parole if Howe had been convicted, because of the "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel" nature of the crime. Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

Based on his no-contest plea, Howe was found guilty by Del Rosario, who set sentencing for March 8. The "no-contest" plea means Howe does not admit guilt, but he will no longer defend himself against the criminal charge.

Rodby said he advised Howe not to change his plea because of the stiff penalty he would face. Rodby said he was prepared to argue in court that Howe's statements to police were the result of coercion and that police led Howe to believe that by confessing he would be protecting family members.

Howe's sister was arrested in connection with the case, but she was released without being charged.

"He pled no contest knowing that his sentence would be life without the possibility of ever getting released," Rodby said.

The change of plea also caught prosecutors by surprise. Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Takata said Howe had nothing to lose by going to trial.

"Because he pled without a deal to murder in the second degree, he admitted that the murder was especially cruel and heinous," Takata said. "By doing so he's facing a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Not too many people plead to that sentence."

Takata said he was prepared to show at trial that Howe killed Nakaji because he and his sister suspected Nakaji stole an ounce of marijuana from them. Nakaji denied the theft and told the two that if she did steal the marijuana then it's "finders keepers," Takata said.

A note with the words "finders keepers" was found on Nakaji's body, he said.

On the night of the killing, prosecutors said Nakaji was visiting Howe's sister's apartment where he beat her 14 times with a metal pipe. Takata said Howe wrapped her face, wrists and ankles with tape and "while she was still alive and moaning he cut her throat."

Nakaji died a short while later and Howe threw her from the second floor to the parking lot, put her body in a stolen car and drove to 'Ewa Beach, where Howe dumped Nakaji at the entrance to a goat farm.

Takata said he did not know why Howe changed his plea.

"But pleading to the charge without a deal and agreeing to a sentence of life without the possibility of parole is probably one of the most decent things that he's done in a life that's been infested and riddled with crime and drugs," Takata said.

Howe's criminal record includes 12 felony convictions, including burglary, forgery, firearms violations and car theft.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.