"Frank Pauline and Ian Schweitzer guilty
In August of 1999 a Hilo jury found Frank Pauline guilty of the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of Dana Ireland. In February of 2000 another Hilo jury found Albert Ian Schweitzer guilty of the same crimes. Both men were given life sentences.
Plea Agreement.
Shortly after the plea Shawn Schweitzer accepted a deal that allowed him to walk free. Under the agreement Shawn would get credit for time served and plead guilty to the lesser crime of Manslaughter. In exchange he would confess to his involvement in the crime with Frank and Ian."
Press Release.
In April of 2000, shortly after the plea and Shawn Schweitzer was freed, the Hawai’i County Prosecutor issued a press release. The prosecutor’s press release stated that Shawn Schweitzer had given a detailed and
full confession
and had
passed a lie detector
administered by the Hawai’i Attorney General’s office.
Deception indicated.
It was true he had confessed, but it was
not true
that he had passed a polygraph in support of his confession. In fact, he did not pass, the polygraph examiner’s report stated, “deception indicated.”
May 9, 2000, sentencing hearing.
During the Shawn Schweitzer sentencing hearing the prosecutor told the judge that Shawn had taken a polygraph. He did not say that Shawn passed the polygraph, but that was the implication.
The prosecutor’s press release, with its false claim of passing a polygraph, was the death knell of the appeals of Frank Pauline and Albert Ian Schweitzer. WHY? Because the third co-defendant had confessed to the crime, his confession implicated Frank and Ian in the crime, and he had passed a polygraph is support of his confession. It was a done deal; all three are guilty, case closed.
However, the truth is:
- Shawn Schweitzer lied to avoid life in prison; his confession was false.
- Shawn Schweitzer did not pass a polygraph in support of his confession.
- The real killer, the man who left his sperm, is still out there.
Judges for Justice does not intend to criticize any of the participants in this case – past or present. Error happens; when recognized it is progress toward truth. It is never too late for justice.
This is the 17
th
email from Judges for Justice. Stay tuned for the 18
th
email; its subject will be, “Sperm DNA test eliminates the three defendants.”
Sincerely,
