Pauline act upset
victim’s sister
Pauline's finger-pointing shows
By Rod Thompson
he doesn't get the message,
a prosecutor says
Star-BulletinHILO -- When Frank Pauline pointed his finger at murder victim Dana Ireland's sister and proclaimed his innocence, he showed he still didn't understand his crime, Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi said.
"I think that was a bit insensitive," Iboshi said. "That's the whole point. He doesn't get the message."
Judge Riki May Amano offered Pauline a chance to speak yesterday before he was sentenced for the murder, rape and kidnapping of Ireland.
Turning his back to the judge, Pauline pointed at Sandy Ireland in the audience and told her authorities got the wrong person when they convicted him.
Amano then sentenced him to three life terms for the 1991 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Dana Ireland.
Victim's counselor Dena Aindow put her arm around Sandy and led her out of the court.
Iboshi confirmed later that Sandy had been upset by Pauline's actions.
Pauline's attorney Clifford Hunt called Amano's structuring of the sentence a compromise that leaves open a chance Pauline might be freed some day if he makes progress while in prison.
Amano ordered Pauline to serve one life sentence with possible parole, to be followed by the two other life sentences to be served at the same time, also with possible parole. Iboshi wanted all three to be served consecutively.
Hunt said the Hawaii Paroling Authority will set minimum versions of those sentences, possibly 50 years each for a total of 100.
By not putting all three sentences consecutively, Amano was leaving a possibility that the expected long minimums could be reduced some day, Hunt said.
"It's possible if he made real progress, (the minimums) could be revisited," he said.
That's assuming Pauline's conviction holds. Hunt will argue two motions before Amano on Oct. 25, one to acquit Pauline and another for a new trial.
If those are denied, Hunt says he will appeal the case, a process that could take 1 years.
In his finger-pointing statement to Ireland's sister and the court, Pauline said the brothers Ian and Shawn Schweitzer, whom he earlier named as participating in the attack, are also innocent.
Pauline's mother Pat said later that he named the Schweitzers because there was "bad blood" between one of his brothers and the Schweitzers.
Separate trials for the Schweitzers are pending.
Pauline's statement followed one read by Sandy on behalf of her father, John Ireland.
"We are bitter and angry because the law doesn't provide for the ultimate sentence, execution," John wrote.
Contacted at his home in Virginia later in the day, John's mood was improved by the sentence.
"We got what we wanted," he said.
Dana Ireland Archive
