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Makuola Collins sentenced to 30 years for 2011 killing

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Makuola Collins was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his childhood friend Joel Botelho.

A state judge sentenced Makuola Collins this morning to 30 years in prison for killing his childhood friend Joel Botelho.

The 30-year sentence is what Collins, 33, agreed to when he pleaded guilty in August to manslaughter for the January 2011 shooting death of Botelho, following a barroom confrontation with Botelho’s younger brother Leon.

Circuit Judge Karen Nakasone also ordered Collins to pay $3,422 restitution for Botelho’s funeral expenses.

Collins and Botelho grew up in the same Kaneohe neighborhood, were classmates since elementary school, played youth sports together and were co-captains on Castle High School’s football team, on which Botelho was a star quarterback.

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