Ireland’s mom
views suspects
for first time
‘It was a relief,’ she says
By Dana Williams
after staring at the two
brothers in the courtroom
Star-BulletinHILO -- As Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer were led out of the courtroom, the mother of murder victim Dana Ireland stood a few feet away and looked at them closely.
Her daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered almost eight years ago.
Before yesterday, Louise Ireland had never seen the two brothers accused in the attack.
The men came to court to ask for separate trials, a request that was granted by Judge Riki May Amano.
When court recessed, Shawn, wearing a uniform from Halawa prison, and Ian, wearing a uniform from Oahu Community Correctional Center, were escorted from the room.
As they walked past observers, Louise Ireland stepped toward them and stared.
Later, she said it felt "wonderful. It was a relief."
She said it didn't matter to her if the Schweitzer brothers were ever convicted by a jury, because "just looking at them they would be capable of doing it."
A few rows behind John and Louise Ireland, the Schweitzer family listened to the court proceedings on a small speaker on the wall.
While Frank Pauline Jr. is currently on trial for the murder, the Schweitzer brothers were scheduled to go on trial Nov. 15.
The brothers asked for separate trials so that any confession made by one could not be considered as evidence against the other. They both allegedly made statements about the case to convicted felons.
Amano said the trial date would remain Nov. 15 for Ian Schweitzer, and Shawn Schweitzer would go to trial March 6, 2000.
As she discussed the trial date with Shawn, his father stood up and spoke to the judge.
"I have a question," said Jerry Schweitzer. "I would like to know about the severe conditions they put Shawn under."
Amano allowed him to speak, but said his son's prison conditions were not a matter being addressed by the court yesterday.
Later, Jerry Schweitzer said his son had been "in the hole" twice at the prison, being held under the harshest conditions possible.
He said he'd had limited communication with his son and limited information about his son's situation.
Trial witnesses summary
