This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A Bountiful man has pleaded guilty in connection with the 2015 fatal beating of his girlfriend's ex-husband.

Heneli (Henry) Kalainisi Kaufusi, 36, was charged in 2nd District Court with one count of first-degree felony murder for the Oct. 14, 2015, death of 37-year-old Sione Mangisi.

on Wednesday, Kaufuis pleaded guilty to a lesser count of second-degree felony manslaughter, as well as a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault.

He faces up to 15 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced March 29 by Judge John Morris. But prosecutors have agreed to recommend that the two convictions run concurrently, according to court documents.

The attack occurred in front of a Bountiful home, located in the 3500 block of Lexington Drive, where Mangisi's ex-wife and children live, and where Kaufusi also lived.

Kaufusi "struck, kicked and stomped on the victim multiple times, which resulted in the victim's death," according to charging documents.

Police believe Mangisi came to the home to see his children, but have said they do not know what sparked the confrontation.

Mangisi died at the scene while receiving medical attention.

Kaufusi stated in his written plea agreement that the fight "began with my belief that I was defending myself."

But as the fight progressed, "the facts would no longer have justified my belief I was acting in self-defense," Kaufusi wrote.

Further into the fight, Kaufusi wrote, "I struck [Mangisi] in such a way that I was aware created a substantial and unjustifiable risk that could result in his death and [Mangisi] did in fact subsequently die from my actions."

During a preliminary hearing last February,Teresa Beauregard testified that as she and her husband were driving by they witnessed a large man covered in blood repeatedly punching and kicking another man.

"He was large," Beauregard said of the aggressor. "He was angry. He was bloody."

Beauregard testified that she saw the aggressor punching the victim, kneeing him in the chest, stomping his head and kicking him. During the attack, she heard the larger man yell, "F— you!" and "My house!" repeatedly.