A native Hawaiian man has been released from a 130-year sentence after 25 years in prison amid new evidence.
A native Hawaiian man has been released from a 130-year sentence after 25 years in prison amid new evidence.
A judge on Tuesday ordered a man released from prison immediately after his attorneys
presented new evidence and argued that he didn’t commit the crimes he was convicted of and spent more than 20 years locked up for: the 1991 murder, kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman visiting Hawaii.
He said the justice system is flawed, calling himself one of many imprisoned for crimes they did t commit. He told reporters that he was grateful for the judge doing the honourable thing. The man was released from a 130-year prison sentence after his attorney presented new evidence in his case. Albert Ian Schweitzer who has already served 25 years in prison for the murder, kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman who visited Hawaii in 1991was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Peter Kubota.
Mr Kubota said Mr Schweitzer should be freed from his shackles immediately, during a court hearing in the town of Hilo, Hawaii’s largest island.
he said, calling himself one of many imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. He told
reporters that he was grateful for the judge doing the honourable thing.
Schweitzer hugs his mother Linda moments after a judge ordered
he is released on Tuesday
‘My feelings were all over the place said Schweitzer, speaking to
AP about the moment of his release.
There was insurmountable pressure to solve this case. And when that happens mistakes are made. Some intentional and some unintentional.
Ireland’s relatives are yet to comment on Schweitzer s release.
Lawson secured the release of Schweitzer with help from the Innocence Project in New York. Schweitzer was the last of three Native Hawaiian men convicted in Ireland’s death who had remained imprisoned. DNA evidence previously submitted in the case belonged to an unknown man – and all three of the convicted men were excluded as sources. Shawn Schweitzer continues to feel immense guilt about agreeing to the confession and entering a guilty plea for a crime he did not commit and falsely implicating his brother the document said.
A polygraph test in November showed he was telling the truth when he denied any involvement in the murder the document said. Pauline was killed in a New Mexico prison by a fellow inmate in 2015. Being back in Hawaii tastes great Schweitzer told the AP.
