Ireland’s mother testifies
Defense attorneys opt not
By Rod Thompson
to cross-examine her
Star-BulletinHILO -- Louise Ireland, the mother of murder victim Dana Ireland, testified this morning that she "went into orbit" on Christmas Eve 1991 when she learned that her daughter had apparently been involved in an auto accident.
Ireland spoke in a calm voice as she testified about the events of that afternoon and evening.
But she revealed emotion in the moments of silence following her answers to questions from deputy prosecutor Lincoln Ashida.
At first briefly, then repeatedly, Ireland looked over in apparent anger at Frank Pauline Jr., the man accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering her daughter.
Louise Ireland described how the family learned about her daughter's crushed bicycle and the chance that she might have been taken to Hilo Hospital following an accident.
The testimony was over in barely 10 minutes, and defense attorney Clifford Hunt did not cross-examine her.
Later in the morning, Honolulu forensic pathologist Kanthi von Guenthner testified that Dana Ireland died of multiple injuries, including one to her head that could have been caused by a glancing blow from a tire iron.
Pauline has told police he hit Ireland with a tire iron.
Hunt had earlier told the jury that one expert said it was "bizarre" to think a direct blow from a tire iron caused the head injury.
Von Guenthner agreed that a direct blow would not have caused the injury, but said a glancing blow could have.
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