Justin Klein Sentenced For Throwing Japanese Tourist From Cliff In Kauai

Man Who Threw Tourist From Hawaii Cliff Sentenced To Prison

A Hawaii man who critically injured a Japanese tourist by throwing her from a cliff was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison.

After being on the lam for four months, Justin Klein, 38, turned himself in to face attempted murder charges in April 2013.

In March, Klein pled guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment to avoid going to trial, according to KHON2.

"We're satisfied that we were able to resolve this case without putting the victim through the trauma of trial," the Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney wrote in a statement.

The 15-foot fall critically injured the 31-year-old Azusa "Shita" Ino on the island of Kauai in December 2012, according to KITV. She's since recovered and returned to Japan.

Klein and Ino became romantically involved while she was on vacation, according to Klein's sister Jody Pearson.

Pearson also told Hawaii News Now her brother had a troubled past before moving to Hawaii in May 2012.

"When he left for Hawaii he was already on probation and facing going to court [in Oregon] on some additional charges, and he decided to run, I guess," Pearson said last year.

As part of his sentence, Klein is ordered to serve the full five years and to pay $20,000 to cover his victim's medical bills.

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