The death of Cyrus Belt shocked Honolulu. Matthew Higa, then 23, a neighbor and admitted drug user, was arrested after witnesses saw him throw the 23-month-old toddler off an H-1 Freeway pedestrian overpass on January 17, 2008. Higa's trial began in January 2010. This is a timeline of events leading up to the verdict in Higa's murder trial.
Created by higima on 10/02/2010
Last updated: 21/07/10 at 17:18
Hawaii Paroling Authority sets a 200 year minimum term for Matthew Higa. He will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Parole_board_says_Matthew_Higa_should_spend_200_years_in_prison.html
Matthew Higa talked publicly for the first time about the death of Cyrus Belt at his parole hearing.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100713_Higa_describes_hazy_state_during_babys_fatal_tossing.html
A state circuit judge heard closing arguments in the case of a toddler tossed onto a Honolulu freeway, with the defense arguing that the child was dead already at the time Cyrus Belt, 23 months, was thrown from the Miller Street pedestrian overpass on Jan. 17, 2008.
But Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said Matthew Higa's admitted use of methamphetamine explains how he could kill Belt, his bizarre behavior and contradictory statements afterward.
Higa, 25, on trial for second-degree murder, did not testify in his own defense.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100205_Prosecutor_calls_defense_an_imaginary_scenario.html
On the morning before her 23-month-old son, Cyrus Belt, plunged off a pedestrian overpass onto the H-1 freeway, the toddler's mother said she went to gamble at an illegal game room downtown and smoked methamphetamine there with her neighbor, the father of the man charged with her son's murder.
Chanco was called as a defense witness in Matthew Higa's murder trial.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100129_Mom_smoked_ice_as_son_died.html
An expert testifying on behalf of Matthew Higa, on trial on a charge of killing a baby, said he would be surprised if Higa told police 23-month-old Cyrus Belt was alive on a pedestrian overpass before plunging onto the H-1 freeway.
But that is what Higa told police the day after Belt's death, according to the transcript of a police interview admitted into evidence.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100127_Time_of_death_is_disputed.html
Mary Susan Arnold cried when she described finding the body of 23-month-old Cyrus Belt on the H-1 freeway on Jan. 17, 2008, under a pedestrian overpass.
"There was nothing I could do," Arnold said, "I held the baby's hand and it was warm."
Arnold was the first person to reach the toddler and one of the first witnesses to testify in the murder trial of Matthew Higa in Circuit Court. Higa, 25, is facing a mandatory life prison term for allegedly killing the toddler by throwing him off the overpa
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100126_Witnesses_recall_scene_with_boys_body_on_H-1.html
The lawyer for Matthew Higa asked for a new judge, just 10 days before his trial on murder charges that he allegedly threw a toddler from a freeway overpass was scheduled to begin.
"I don't think that my client can be fairly treated at this point in time based on what's transpired in the past with this case and another case that I'm having before Judge (Dexter) Del Rosario," said Randy Oyama, Higa's lawyer.
Oyama did not elaborate on why he thinks the judge is not impartial.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100116_Accused_baby_killers_lawyer_asks_for_new_judge_in_trial.html
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Cyrus Belt's father and aunt are suing the state, Belt's mother and his accused killer, Matthew Higa, over the toddler's death in 2008.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100115_Dad_and_aunt_of_toddler_flung_onto_road_sue_state_mother_and_accused_killer.html
Accused baby killer Matthew Higa declared himself mentally fit to stand trial for second-degree murder yesterday and asked to be tried by a judge rather than a jury.
Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario granted Higa's request for a nonjury trial on charges of throwing 23-month-old Cyrus Belt from a pedestrian overpass into traffic on the H-1 freeway on Jan. 17, 2008. Del Rosario asked Higa a number of questions, including whether he was under the influence of any medication.
Higa, 24, said he was not.
Del Rosario scheduled trial for next January.
Higa's mental-fitness declaration was necessary for his prosecution to proceed because three mental health experts appointed to examine him split on whether Higa is fit for trial. Two found him fit, one found him unfit.
His lawyer, Randy Oyama, said he and Higa chose a bench trial because they don't think they can get an impartial jury.
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/hawaiinews/20090625_judge_to_decide_murder_case.html
The 33-year-old mother of a 1-year-old boy who was thrown off an H-1 freeway overpass was arrested on outstanding warrants. Nancy Chanco was arrested at 4:25 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Bethel and Beretania streets on four warrants. Her bail was set at $3,800. Chanco's son Cyrus Belt was killed when he was thrown off the Miller Street pedestrian overpass and onto westbound H-1 freeway traffic. Matthew Higa, 23, is accused in the murder. Chanco was found guilty of fourth-degree theft, a petty misdemeanor, in November. She also was found guilty of criminal contempt of court in 1998.
Phillis Asiata, who has custody of Cyrus Belt's brother Richie Makana Chanco, questions why the state returned her grandson, Cyrus Belt, to her daughter Nancy Chanco. Asiata lives in Turkey.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/02/04/news/story06.html
State prison officials have separated Matthew Higa -- charged with throwing a toddler to his death onto the H-1 freeway -- from the rest of the inmates at Oahu Community Correctional Center. "For Mr. Higa's safety, he is housed separately from the other pretrial inmates," said Louise Kim McCoy, state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman. Higa, 23, is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge in the death of 23-month-old Cyrus Belt on Jan. 17. Attorney Randy Oyama entered a not-guilty plea on Higa's behalf yesterday in Circuit Court. Higa appeared in court via closed-circuit teleconferencing from OCCC. Circuit Judge Derrick Chan set trial for March 31. Higa remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail. This is not the first time prison officials have separated defendants awaiting trial in high-profile cases for their own safety. In 1999 they put Xerox killer Byran Uyesugi in a special holding cell, and in 2002 they did the same for Christopher Aki, who was later convicted of manslaughter in the bludgeoning death of his girlfriend's 11-year-old sister.
Legal experts say Matthew Higa's drug use make make it difficult for defense attorneys to use insanity defense.
Family, friends and others touched by Cyrus Belt's death attend a memorial service at Nuuanu Memorial Park. The line of mourners went out the door
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/25/news/story01.html
A candlelight vigil at the state Capitol honors Cyrus Belt and another murder victim, Janet Tupuola.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/23/news/story03.html
Matthew Higa, accused of throwing 1-year-old Cyrus Belt from a freeway overpass, made his initial appearance in Honolulu District Court, his ankles and wrists shackled and looking disheveled in a white jumpsuit. Higa pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder and remained in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.
Hundreds of dolls, toys and balloons mark the Miller Street H-1 overpass site where toddler Cyrus Belt was thrown to his death Thursday, just shy of his second birthday. Ray Galapon, holding son John Ray, was among those paying respects yesterday. A silent march and candlelight vigil tonight will honor Cyrus as well as Janel Tupuola, who was beaten to death Wednesday in Kailua.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/22/news/story01.html
People leave dolls and balloons as a memorial to Cyrus Belt at the Miller Street pedestrian overpass where he died as details begin to emerge about Belt's short and troubled life.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/18/news/story01.html
Cyrus Belt, one month shy of his 2nd birthday, is thrown off the H-1 Freeway from the Miller Street pedestrian overpass. A neighbor, Matthew Higa, 23, is arrested after being detained by witnesses.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/18/news/story01.html
Child Protective Services closes the Cyrus Belt's case.
In a report, the Department of Human Services notes through several home visits, the "home has been deemed safe and mother/child has a strong, secure and happy bond."
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/21/news/story04.html#jump
Child Protective Services opens an investigation and Belt is put in foster care for four days after police officers allege that his mother, Nancy Chanco's drug use prevents her from taking care of him properly.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/21/news/story04.html
Child Protective Services confirms there is a threat of abuse and neglect of Cyrus Belt by his mother. The case is referred to Home-Based Support Services. But the case is closed on April 11.
In a report dated May 16 written by a family services assistant, Chanco is described as an "attractive and intelligent woman" who seems to be an "intuitive parent." Chanco worked as a surgical technician with a dental surgeon and had hoped to return to the same job, the report says.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/21/news/story04.html#jump
Department of Human Services documents show that Cyrus Belt was exposed to drugs while his mother, Nancy Chanco, was pregnant with him.
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/01/20/news/story02.html
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