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Second witness
heard Schweitzer
confession
The revelation is made
By Rod Thompson
by Albert Ian Schweitzer's
attorney as his trial opens
in Dana Ireland's murder
Star-BulletinHILO -- A second witness allegedly heard of a confession from Albert Ian Schweitzer in the murder of Dana Ireland, defense attorney James Biven revealed in court today.
However, in his opening statements in Schweitzer's trial for the murder of Ireland in 1991, Biven said that all of the witnesses against Schweitzer either made deals with the prosecution because of charges they face or were intoxicated when they witnessed the alleged events.
Biven identified the possible second witness as Maui jail inmate Kenneth Gann. It was earlier reported that Schweitzer allegedly confessed to a cellmate, Michael Ortiz, that he was involved in Ireland's murder.
Schweitzer, 28, is the second suspect to be tried for Ireland's death. Last summer, Frank Pauline Jr. was convicted of murder, kidnapping and sexual assault. Schweitzer faces the same charges, while his brother, Shawn, 24, is to be tried in March.
In Circuit Judge Riki May Amano's courtroom this morning, Biven maintained "evidence on the ground" does not match Ireland having been struck by a Volkswagen Beetle as alleged by the prosecution.
He said tire marks found at the scene of Ireland's murder point to a truck.
He also said a child's shoe with Ireland's blood on it was found where Ireland was discovered and that the Volkswagen alleged by the prosecution to have been painted soon after the attack actually was not painted until approximately six months later.
In his opening statements, deputy prosecutor Lincoln Ashida did not reveal any new major facts in the case.
The one difference, however, is that in Schweitzer's alleged confession to Ortiz, he said Pauline dragged Ireland into the front passenger seat of the Volkswagen bug and not into the front hood trunk, as was alleged in the first trial.
Deflecting the defense's statement that a truck was involved in the attack, Ashida said that Ken Baker, an accident reconstruction specialist, will testify that the damage to Ireland's bicycle is consistent with a Volkswagen Beetle.
Ashida also said Ireland was attacked by a "pack" of men. "She was beaten and raped, beaten and raped, beaten and raped," Ashida said.
Ireland died 25 minutes after midnight on Christmas Day, 1991.
Dana Ireland Archive
