Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Father harangues
Ireland case judge at
son’s sentencing
'I might just blow your
By Rod Thompson
court right off the door'
Star-BulletinHILO -- The father of Dana Ireland murder defendant Albert Ian Schweitzer interrupted the sentencing of his son yesterday with several emotional outbursts from the gallery.
"I might just blow your court right off the door," Jerry Schweitzer told Judge Rikki May Amano from the gallery. "You're constantly protecting the prosecutors. They're corrupt to the core and you know it." He later explained he meant he would expose alleged court wrongdoing, not inflict physical harm.
Amano eventually allowed Jerry Schweitzer to formally address the court and then sentenced Albert Ian Schweitzer, 28, to life in prison with the possibility of parole, and 20 years each for the kidnapping and rape of Ireland.
Ireland was run over by a Volkswagen "bug" driven by Schweitzer, raped and then left to die on Christmas Eve 1991.
Deputy Prosecutor Lincoln Ashida had asked for extended terms for all three charges, extending the two 20-year terms to life and canceling any possibility of parole for the murder charge. Although that would have been the same sentence that fellow defendant Frank Pauline Jr. received, Amano said Pauline had prior offenses which justified extended sentences to protect the community. Schweitzer had no previous felonies.
But Amano also ordered each of the sentences to be served consecutively rather than at the same time, which could extend the amount of time Schweitzer will have to serve in prison.
Minimum sentences will be set later by the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Pauline is now serving a minimum prison term of 180 years.
Before he was sentenced, Schweitzer told the court, "Growing up on the Big Island, I always did believe in the system. I ain't given up on the system."
When Amano asked what he meant, his attorney James Biven refused to let him answer, saying it could affect an appeal.
Biven said testimony from an informant who got information from Schweitzer was that Schweitzer accidentally lost control of the car which hit Ireland.
But Amano found that Schweitzer had "exclusive control" over the car.
Sandra Ireland, the victim's sister, told the court, "Ian made a terrible and evil choice."
He ran her down in a "cowardly and malicious act," Ireland said.
"We didn't see any remorse," said Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi.
Louise Ireland, the victim's mother, also said, "Ian didn't show any remorse."
John and Louise Ireland later said they were satisfied with the sentence. "I'm glad it's over," Louise said.
But one detail remains, the May 9 sentencing of Schweitzer's brother Shawn, 24, who recently confessed he was sitting in the back seat of his brother's car during the attack, but did not participate.
According to an agreement, he will be placed on probation and be allowed to move to the mainland.
Dana Ireland Archive
