Updated at 10:33 a.m., Monday, January 28, 2008
Accused killers plead not guily in Hawaii court today
Advertiser Staff
Accused murderers Matthew Higa and Alapeti Tunoa are tentatively scheduled to stand trial at the end of March.Both men entered not guilty pleas in Circuit Court this morning to indictments returned against them last week.
Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario set trial for the week of March 31 for Higa, 23, accused of killing 23-month-old toddler Cyrus Belt Jan. 17 by throwing him from a freeway overpass.
The trial date is expected to be moved back as prosecution and defense attorneys file pre-trial motions.
Circuit Judge Randy Lee set the same trial week for Tunoa, 30, accused of murdering his estranged girlfriend Jan. 16 by beating her to death with a loaded shotgun.
Another man accused last week of soliciting the murder of his ex-wife's husband, Anthony Mark Albert, 50, also entered a not guilty plea this morning and is scheduled to go on trial the week of March 31.
