Defendant Ronat Chutaro is remorseful for stabbing and killing 54-year-old Arthur Wakuk.

Today, he addressed Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte ahead of learning his fate.

“Your Honor, after I stabbed Mr. Arthur Wakuk, I should’ve stayed to help him. I was scared and I ran.”

Wakuk bled out on a Tamuning sidewalk back in December 2020. He died days later at the hospital.

“I had two years to think about what I have done," he told the judge. "I caused a death of Mr. Arthur Wakuk. I don’t remember anything that happened that day, but I’ve seen enough to know that I did what I did and I can never take it back. To the victim’s family, I’d like say how very sorry I am for what happened. It is my fault. Please forgive me. To the people of Guam, I am sorry for what I’ve done. There is no excuse for my behavior.”

Chutaro is sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections prison with credit for time served.

He’s been held since authorities caught him in connection to the murder.

The incident was caught on video surveillance, part of the evidence prosecutor Basil O’Mallan shared with the court.

“I want to make sure the court is aware that the actions by the defendant were not provoked by the victim in any manner and that it was just the defendant’s conduct that resulted in the death of the victim," he said.

Defense attorney Sam Teker says his client is aware of his actions the night of the attack.

“Our position is that the car was coming down the road and I think Mr. Chutaro’s action is that he hit the car, and Mr. Wakuk was mad and I think Mr. Chutaro threw a punch and Mr. Wakuk responded and then Mr. Chutaro pulled out a knife," he said. "So I don’t think it was Mr. Wakuk’s actions that caused it.”

The defense was hoping for leniency requesting Chutaro only serve nine years.

“Mr. Chutaro did it in the heat of passion and the heat of the moment," Teker said. “Intoxication doesn’t excuse anything. He was in a bad frame of mind that day and got into a fight with his girlfriend. Nothing excuses taking the life of another person.”

No excuse - which is why O’Mallan felt justice was served.

“It will get the message out that you cannot walk around drunk, initiate a fight with an innocent bystander and kill them and walk away," he said.

Wakuk’s family declined to attend today’s hearing.

The court noted part of the reason Chutaro got the maximum sentence was his criminal history. Chutaro has already been convicted in three other cases on charges of burglary, assault, and theft.

He was also ordered to pay $2,540 in restitution to the victim’s family.