The Kansas Supreme Court has affirmed a Riley County District Court decision in the sentencing of a Manhattan man convicted of first degree murder nearly two years ago. Matthew Wilson appealed his sentence in the death of Fort Riley soldier Michael Lowery and other counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery. Wilson’s case that occurred in the early morning hours of April seventh 2013 at the University Garden apartment complex.
The district court ordered Wilson to serve a hard-25 life sentence for the murder and an additional 310 months for the remaining crimes to run consecutive to his life sentence. Wilson argued the local court abused its discretion in ordering the consecutive sentences, but a unanimous Supreme Court held there was no abuse of discretion.
Judge John Bosch sentenced the 43-year-old Wilson in December of 2013, with Wilson apologizing at the sentencing hearing, saying he didn’t know hy he did it and that something in him must have finally broke. While the judge agreed Wilson’s life had been difficult. he concluded Wilson’s misfortunes could not overcome the degree of harm he had caused.
