A jury in the trial of Glenn Keohokapu Jr. this afternoon returned a verdict of manslaughter instead of murder in the killing of Steven Wilcox last year outside a Kaneohe karaoke bar.

Keohokapu, 36, claimed self defense in the stabbing of Wilcox, 19, in an altercation outside Club Komomai on Kamehameha Highway.

Deputy Prosecutor Kristine Yoo said she was disappointed by the verdict, which came after 2 1/2 days of deliberation.

Yoo said her office will seek to extend Keohokapu's sentence from the 20-year maximum for manslaughter to life with the possibility of parole, based on the defendant's past criminal record.

Defense lawyer Benjamin Ignacio also expressed disappointment at the verdict, saying he believed the evidence showed his client acted in the self defense. Ignacio said an appeal of the case is likely.