Posters call for
deaths in Ireland
murder case
'Wanted Dead' notices portraying
By Rod Thompson
the Schweitzers appeared in Pahoa
after all charges were dropped
Star-BulletinHILO -- Police are investigating crudely made posters that call for the death of two brothers previously suspected in the 1991 murder of Big Island visitor Dana Ireland.
The hand-written poster says, "Wanted Dead, Ian + Shawn Schweitzer," and includes photocopied pictures of the brothers.
Linda Schweitzer, mother of the brothers, said the posters appeared in Pahoa town shortly after murder, kidnapping and rape charges against her sons were dropped last month.
On Oct. 20 lead prosecutor Charlene Iboshi had told Judge Riki May Amano that "new and unforeseen circumstances" led to the decision.
Linda Schweitzer told the Star-Bulletin today: "This is basically calling for a public hanging of my sons. I'm very scared."
Albert Ian Schweitzer, 27, and his brother Shawn, 23, became suspects in the case when a third suspect, Frank Pauline Jr., 25, told authorities he was present when the brothers attacked Ireland in a remote area on Christmas Eve, 1991.
A police lieutenant testified in an earlier hearing that he was aware of bad feelings between the Pauline and Schweitzer families.
Former defense attorney Ira Leitel, before he was removed from the case because of a conflict, suggested that was a reason for Pauline to lie about the brothers.
The brothers have said through their attorneys that they are innocent. Their mother said the boys were with a relative when the attack took place.
Although charges against the brothers were dropped, an agreement between prosecution and defense would allow charges to be refiled before June 1999. Amano left in force a gag order which prevents the prosecution from explaining its actions.
Court documents suggest that a recently discovered sperm sample from sheets where Ireland lay dying does not match the DNA of either the brothers or Pauline.
The judge ordered the brothers to leave the Big Island. Albert Ian Schweitzer is on Kauai, and Shawn Schweitzer is on Oahu.
