Celestial Dove Cassman's Killer Pleads No Contest

A Santa Cruz man accused of killing his girlfriend during a Hawaiian vacation last year changed his plea to no contest for the reduced charge of manslaughter, media reported.

Gerald Galaway Jr was in court Thursday to face charges for the death of Celestial Dove Cassman, 35, according to the Star-Advisor, a newspaper in Honolulu. The 39-year-old man reportedly choked and beat Cassman in a turnout on the Kahekili Highway in Maui. The attorney's body was found at the bottom of a cliff.

Galaway also pleaded no contest to kidnapping. In exchange for his pleas, the prosecution dismissed another charge of attempted first-degree sexual assault, according to Maui News.

and was an attorney for several California cities, including Capitola. She also worked closely with , a Watsonville-based program that provides support to kids who are involved in the court system.