A 52-year-old Kalihi man was found guilty yesterday of stabbing to death his 44-year-old wife in the couple's home nearly two years ago.

A Circuit Court jury deliberated for a little more than a day before finding Melchor Adviento guilty of one count of second-degree murder in the Oct. 28, 2007, death of Erlinda Adviento. Melchor Adviento faces a mandatory term of life in prison with the possibility of parole when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Richard Perkins on Oct. 21.

Erlinda Adviento was stabbed 16 times while in the bedroom of her Kahaha Street home. She was stabbed in the heart, lungs, thighs, face and arm, and had defensive wounds on her hands.

Prosecutors said Melchor Adviento killed his wife because he believed she was seeing another man.

First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin said he was pleased with the jury's verdict.

"This sends a clear message from our community that we're not going to tolerate domestic violence," Chin said.

Chin said the jury did not agree with the defense's claim that Melchor Adviento acted in self-defense when he stabbed his wife.

Defense attorney Jonathan Burge argued that his client defended himself and took away knives from his wife after she had stabbed him five times. Adviento was hospitalized in critical condition with three stab wounds to his abdomen and two to his shoulder.

In his opening arguments, however, Chin said that Adviento told the first officer at the scene that he killed his wife and tried to stab himself.

Burge could not be reached for comment yesterday.