Man convicted of killing young boy gets 200-year minimum prison sentence
By APWednesday, July 21, 2010
200-year minimum set for man who killed young boy
HONOLULU — The Hawaii Paroling Authority has written the final chapter in the prosecution of one of the most shocking murder cases in Hawaii in recent years.
The panel on Wednesday set a 200-year minimum term for a Honolulu man convicted of killing a 23-month-old boy. Matthew Higa, 25, can ask for a reduction in his prison term after serving a third of the minimum sentence, meaning he would be about 90 years old.
Higa was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in May for the 2008 death of young Cyrus Belt.
Prosecutors say Higa was high on crystal methamphetamine when he threw Cyrus from the 30-foot-high pedestrian overpass onto the H-1 freeway. The boy was run over by a delivery truck.
