Prosecution
clears brothers in
Ireland case

Suspect's lawyer demands
more information; jury selection
begins Monday

By Rod Thompson
Big Island correspondent

HILO -- Three brothers identified by a defense attorney as possibly involved in the 1991 murder of Big Island newcomer Dana Ireland have already been eliminated as suspects, prosecution documents say.

Defense attorney Clifford Hunt, representing suspect Frank Pauline Jr., named the brothers in documents this week.

Pauline, 25, confessed in 1994 to participating in the killing of Ireland, 23. He named two different brothers, Shawn and Albert Ian Schweitzer, who were charged in 1997 but freed in 1998 when charges were dropped.

Hunt wants the court to order the prosecution to give him more information.

In responding papers, Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi accuses Hunt of not reading the information she already gave him.

"It is obvious from many of his requests and statements he does not realize his 'prime suspects' have been eliminated from culpability," Iboshi wrote.

Hunt told Judge Riki May Amano a month ago that he had read only 1,000 of 5,300 pages of information given him by the prosecution.

Besides police eliminating the three brothers as suspects several years ago, "subsequent forensic testing" continues to be negative about their involvement, Iboshi's filing says.

It isn't clear whether that refers to additional DNA testing believed done on the brothers at the beginning of this year.

Hunt is asking for the names of anonymous tipsters, rough notes of police investigators, copies of police standard procedures, copies of plea agreements and information on lie detector tests.

Iboshi answered that police don't know the names of many of the tipsters, but if Hunt will say which particular name he wants, they might be able to learn it and reveal it in the presence of a judge.

The general orders under which police operate are public record, and the prosecution has already agreed to give Hunt information on lie detector tests and witness agreements, she said.

Jury selection is to start Monday for Pauline, accused of the kidnapping, rape and murder of Ireland, 23.