Targeting witnesses was nothing new for Vernon Bartley, accused of murdering a woman scheduled to testify against him in a burglary case, according to First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin.

Citing police reports, Chin said Bartley's friends and relatives assaulted and threatened witnesses on Bartley's behalf in an earlier case in Family Court.

Chin mentioned the incident to state Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall yesterday to prevent anyone from intimidating witnesses in Bartley's murder trial, which begins today in Crandall's courtroom.

Bartley's lawyer, Jeffrey Hawk, said the reported assaults and threats involved Bartley's brother. He assured Crandall witnesses will not face intimidation during the trial because Bartley's brother will not attend.

Bartley, 17, is standing trial for second-degree murder, sexual assault, burglary and other charges in connection with the May 25, 2007, strangulation of his neighbor 51-year-old Karen Ertell in her Ewa Beach home. Bartley was 15 at the time, but the state Family Court waived jurisdiction, allowing his prosecution as an adult.

Ertell was scheduled to testify against Bartley in Family Court regarding a burglary in her home.

Family Court proceedings are confidential, and prosecutors are often prevented from mentioning defendants' prior convictions in trial so as not to prejudice them in the eyes of the jurors.

However, Bartley has waived his right to a trial by jury. And Crandall, who will be weighing the evidence in his trial, has not ruled out the prosecutor presenting a record of Bartley's previous Family Court proceedings.

Crandall has also left open the possible presentation into evidence of a letter of apology Bartley wrote to his victim in a prior incident.