Detective recounts Ireland
By Dana Williams
suspect’s admission of murder
Star-BulletinHILO -- Frank Pauline Jr. told police he hit Dana Ireland with a tire iron to make sure she died, an investigator testified yesterday.
Detective Steven Guillermo said Pauline gave a formal statement to police on June 19, 1994, and admitted he was involved in the Christmas Eve 1991 killing of Ireland. Pauline is now on trial for the murder, sexual assault and kidnapping of the woman.
Pauline said he was riding in a Volkswagen Beetle with brothers Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer, who have been charged separately in the case, when they saw a woman on the roadside, Guillermo testified. Pauline told police that Ian Schweitzer, who was driving, turned the vehicle around and headed back toward the woman.
As Pauline "looked up toward the front of the vehicle, he saw this female crossing in front. And at that time (Ian) struck her with the vehicle," Guillermo said.
Pauline "described it as being similar to going over a speed bump twice," the detective added, "once going forward and once reversing."
On June 19, 1994, Frank Pauline Jr. made a formal statement to police about his involvement in the killing of Dana Ireland. Using an overhead projector, prosecutors showed jurors parts of the statement yesterday. STATEMENT EXCERPTS
From Page 7 of 10-page statement:
Detective Steven Guillermo: When you hit her with the tire bar, what was your intention?
Pauline: To make sure I killed her.
Q: To make sure she died?
A: Yeah.
From Page 10 of 10:
Q: Have you given this statement on your own free will?
A: Yes.
Q: Have I coerced or forced you in any way to give this statement?
A: No.
Q: OK, have I promised you anything in return for this statement?
A: No.
The statement was signed by Frank Pauline Jr.
Pauline's formal confession to police can be viewed in its entirety at https://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/06/09/ireland/pauline.html.
Pauline told police the men stopped the car and the Schweitzer brothers loaded Ireland into the trunk. Then they drove to the Waawaa area, Guillermo said.
Guillermo said Pauline told him the men removed Ireland from the trunk, and Ian Schweitzer had sex with her.
"He indicated it was just for a short while, and further indicated he had enjoyed watching this while Ian was having sexual intercourse with her," Guillermo said.
Pauline also told police Ian Schweitzer said they had to kill the woman because she would be able to identify them, the detective said.
Pauline "stated that he walked back to the Volkswagen and retrieved a tire iron from the back portion of the Volkswagen. At that point he approached the victim, looked at her and swung the tire iron at her head," Guillermo said.
As Guillermo testified about the tire iron, Pauline smiled and shook his head.
The detective said Pauline told him the men went to the Schweitzer home, and the brothers changed clothes and put their soiled outfits in a plastic trash bag. They tied the bag and threw it into the brush area of their property, Guillermo said.
The detective said a tire iron was later found wrapped in carpeting across the street from the Pauline home, and clothing was found in a plastic bag in the area described by Pauline.
Guillermo said after the formal statement he was given, he followed up with more questions, asking Pauline if he had touched the woman in any way.
"He stated that prior to Ian Schweitzer having sexual intercourse with the victim, he assisted in pulling down her pants, Guillermo said.
Pauline smiled broadly and shook his head again.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Clifford Hunt raised questions about procedures followed by investigators on the night Ireland was killed.
Guillermo testified that both crime scenes, the one in Kapoho where Ireland was struck and the one in Waawaa where she was found, were left unattended overnight. When detectives returned on Christmas Day, some tire tracks were no longer preserved.
Hunt also questioned why police failed to document the size and location of some tire tracks. Guillermo conceded the tracks could have been documented more clearly.
Guillermo's testimony will continue today.
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