A California man who pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend during a Maui vacation now says he's willing to risk life in prison to change his plea.

Gerald Galaway testified Tuesday that he was in a "trance" and felt pressured when he was accepted a plea agreement to the reduced manslaughter charge in the death of Celestial Cassman.

The Santa Cruz couple were vacationing last year when the attorney was killed.  Galaway was originally charged with second-degree murder.

Galaway says he was under medication and was concerned about a financial burden of a trial on his family when he accepted the plea deal.

The Maui News reports the judge did not rule on the motion to change Galaway's plea and continued the hearing to next week.