A 56-year-old Kawaihae man who pleaded guilty to murdering a popular Kona musician in late 2013 was sentenced to life in prison Monday.
Martin Frank Booth assumed the role of “judge, jury and executioner” when he killed 37-year-old Robert Keawe Lopaka Ryder, Kona Circuit Judge Elizabeth Strance said before sentencing him to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Booth pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Oct. 15. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped an enhanced sentencing measure that would have denied him parole and agreed to remain silent before the parole board on how much time behind bars Booth must serve.
“Mr. Booth, you ruthlessly murdered Robert Keawe Lopaka Ryder,” Strance said. “He was a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, a friend and he positively touched the lives of countless others.
“… (T)oday, you are held accountable to society for your cruel and senseless actions. And, ironically while it will test the fabric of this community, you are extended the benefit of the rule of law that rules that even your life is precious. It does so without expectation that you will change or even have remorse for your crime.”
Booth will receive credit for time served and the sentence will run concurrently with sentences handed down in October in three unrelated cases, including a 20-year term for methamphetamine trafficking that mandates Booth remain behind bars for at least eight years.
Prior to being sentenced, Booth apologized to Ryder’s family and friends.
“Lopaka was a very talented and loving person. He was a friend of mine. I’m sorry,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do to change that and what I’ve done, and for that I am sorry and there is no excuse.”
Ryder’s mother, Debra Ryder, addressed the court during Monday’s sentencing.
“You are inhumane to take someone’s life like you did my son. He was a kind and loving person. He was God’s child; Lopaka believed in Him and he tried his best throughout his 37 years to apply what the Lord guided him to do,” she said. “You will have nightmares and you will have flashbacks for murdering my son. You need to put God in your heart so he can help you live the rest of your life behind bars and my family and I will make sure of that. And, in the end, only God will judge you according to your actions and the way you choose to live your life.”
Booth was indicted for second-degree murder June 9. According to the indictment, Booth killed Ryder sometime between Nov. 30 and Dec. 17, 2013. Ryder’s family reported him missing Jan. 17 after not hearing from him since Thanksgiving.
Police in March located Ryder’s decomposing body in a lava field between Puako Beach Drive and Queen Kaahumanu Highway in South Kohala. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was homicide, according to police.
According to a court document filed by police, the killing came after a 28-year-old woman reportedly told her boyfriend Ryder had assaulted her in a trailer the woman shared with her boyfriend on Booth’s South Kohala property. The woman’s boyfriend then relayed the information to Booth. Booth, according to the affidavit, confronted the woman who told him the accusation was true.
Several days later, Booth told the woman he had shot and killed Ryder, according to the affidavit.
Documents state the killing happened in the garage of Booth’s home. Ryder allegedly shot Booth twice with a 9-mm handgun and bashed Ryder’s head with a hammer after Ryder tried to hit Booth with his ukulele. Booth and another man then disposed of the body, which was wrapped in plastic, while a third man cleaned up the homicide scene.
Both of the others provided information to the police and neither was charged with the slaying.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
