Close
MyNorthwest
News
Opinion
Sports
Tools
Connect

Hawaii man imprisoned for 1991 murder, rape released

Innocence Project Co-Founder and Special Counsel Barry Scheck speaks during a hearing for Albert "Ian" Schweitzer on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. A judge on Tuesday ordered Schweitzer 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. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images) A court officer removes Albert "Ian" Schweitzer's handcuffs following the judge's decision to release him from prison immediately after his attorneys presented new evidence at a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii 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. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images) Albert "Ian" Schweitzer, left, hugs his mother, Linda, moments after a judge ordered him released from prison, in Hilo, Hawaii, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. The judge's ruling came immediately after Schweitzer's attorneys presented new evidence and argued that Schweitzer 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. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images) Innocence Project attorney Susan Freidman talks at the podium from the Albert "Ian" Schweitzer court case Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. Attorneys for Schweitzer, imprisoned for more than 20 years after his conviction for the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of a white woman visiting the Big Island, ask a judge Tuesday to dismiss his conviction due to new evidence, including DNA testing in the case. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images) Albert "Ian" Schweitzer, left, looks on as Innocence Project attorney Susan Freidman speaks during Schweitzer's court case Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Hilo, Hawaii. Attorneys for Schweitzer, imprisoned for more than 20 years after his conviction for the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of a white woman visiting the Big Island, ask a judge Tuesday to dismiss his conviction due to new evidence, including DNA testing in the case. (Marco Garcia/The Innocence Project via AP Images) University of Hawaii law school student Skye Jansen, left, and Hawaii Innocence Project co-director Kenneth Lawson pose with photos related to the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland in Honolulu on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. A petition filed Monday, Jan. 23 outlining new evidence in one of Hawaii's biggest criminal cases asks a judge to release Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, a Native Hawaiian man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for the sexual assault, kidnapping and murder of Ireland, a white woman, on the Big Island. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) Hawaii Innocence Project co-director Kenneth Lawson, background center, and law students go over files and photos related to the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland in Honolulu on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. A petition filed Monday, Jan. 23 outlining new evidence in one of Hawaii's biggest criminal cases asks a judge to release Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, a Native Hawaiian man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for the sexual assault, kidnapping and murder of Ireland, a white woman, on the Big Island. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) FILE - Louise Ireland gestures towards a color enlargement, the last taken of her daughter, Dana Ireland, before her death, while testifying in Hilo, Hawaii, on July 26, 1999. A petition outlining new evidence in one of Hawaii's biggest criminal cases asks a judge to release a Native Hawaiian man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for the sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of Ireland on the Big Island. (W.M. Ing/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP, Pool, File) FILE - Albert "Ian" Schweitzer, accused of participating in the 1991 sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder of Dana Ireland, appears in a Hilo, Hawaii court on Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, during opening arguments in his trial. A petition filed Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, outlining new evidence in one of Hawaii's biggest criminal cases asks a judge to release Schweitzer, a Native Hawaiian man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for the attack of Ireland, a white woman, on the Big Island. (W.M. Ing/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP, Pool) Hawaii Innocence Project co-director Kenneth Lawson, left, and law student Skye Jansen go over files and photos related to the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland in Honolulu on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. A petition filed Monday, Jan. 23 outlining new evidence in one of Hawaii's biggest criminal cases asks a judge to release Albert “Ian” Schweitzer, a Native Hawaiian man who has spent more than 20 years in prison for the sexual assault, kidnapping and murder of Ireland, a white woman, on the Big Island. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher)
Hawaii man imprisoned for 1991 murder, rape released