Man found guilty of manslaughter in fatal downtown beating

HONOLULU (AP) — A man accused of beating another man to death in Chinatown last year has been found guilty.

A Circuit Court jury Tuesday convicted Michael Limjuco Abella of manslaughter.

Prosecutors argued that Abella attacked Shelton Higa unprovoked in July 2014. Witnesses said they saw Abella strike the other man with a 40-ounce beer bottle before fleeing. Abella was then seen returning and punching Higa several times.

Higa was taken to The Queen’s Medical Center, where he lapsed into a coma and later died from his injuries.

Abella’s sentencing is set for Dec. 16. He faces a possible 20-year prison term.