Man involved in fatal 2022 Waikiki stabbing pleads guilty

Photo by Lionel Winebush. (Honolulu District Attorney's Office)

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A man accused of a fatal stabbing in Waikiki in December 2022 pleaded guilty to a lesser offense just before his murder trial.

Lionel Winebush pleaded guilty to first-degree assault. Winebush is accused of stabbing Toni Taki during a fight in Waikiki, sending Taki to the hospital, where he later died.

Court documents showed that the incident on December 6, 2022 began based on retaliation between the two groups due to a disagreement.

One group, of which Winebush was a part, allegedly traveled to Waikiki to retaliate against the other group Taki was affiliated with.

The documents also claimed Winebush stabbed Taki before fleeing the scene, while others beat Taki with a baseball bat.

Winebush was subsequently arrested on December 9, 2022 at Tantalus Lookout. Wainebush faces up to ten years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 13.