Man in Craigslist killing gets 124 years in prison

TACOMA – The first Craigslist killing defendant to be convicted in the murder of a Tacoma-area man has been sentenced to 124 years in prison.

Pierce County Superior Court jurors convicted 23-year-old Kiyoshi Higashi earlier this week of murder, burglary, robbery and assault.

Prosecutors argued Higashi was one of the main players in the April 28, 2010, home-invasion robbery of Jim Sanders and his family. Higashi and three co-defendants targeted the family after Sanders advertised a diamond ring for sale on Craigslist. Sanders was shot after he broke free of restraints and began to fight the robbers.

The News Tribune reports Higashi was unrepentant in remarks made before Judge Rosanne Buckner imposed sentence Friday.

He insulted the Sanders family, called Buckner a racist and said no one but God could judge him, adding, “I don’t care what sentence you give me.”