A Big Island man accused of murdering his wife and burying her body in their back yard more than six years ago pleaded no contest Wednesday to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Prosecutors made a plea deal with Alexander Malani Gambsky, who had initially been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the 2008 death of 34-year-old Dawn Gambsky, also known as Dawn Mancilla.

The Kurtistown man pleaded no contest Wednesday to manslaughter, which carries a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment as opposed to second-degree murder, which has a maximum life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Judge Greg Nakamura accepted the plea. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4.

Gambsky’s lawyer, Brian De Lima, said his client suffered from “extreme emotional disturbance, for which there was a reasonable explanation. 

“But he also recognized that this would bring the matter to a closure for the families involved, not only to the victim’s family but also to his family as well.”

De Lima said his client accepted the offer to reduce the charge to manslaughter, but agreed to an open 20-year term, which would mean the parole board would set his minimum sentence.

Dawn Gambsky was reported missing in July 2008.

Police served a search warrant Aug. 8, 2008, at Gambsky’s property on 37th Avenue in Orchidland Estates where they believed Alexander Gambsky might have buried his wife’s body.

The site was excavated and detectives unearthed the woman’s skeletal remains.

An autopsy determined traumatic injuries were present, and found no indication she died of natural causes.

Detectives reclassified the case in May 2009 to murder from a coroner’s inquest and their findings were sent to the prosecutor’s office.

It wasn’t until four years later, in August 2013, that a Hilo grand jury indicted Gambsky. Hawaii County police arrested him at his home.