Albert Schweitzer

1875 – 1965

Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) was a French theologian, organist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of “Reverence for Life.” His philosophy was expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene, in the part of French Equatorial Africa which is now in Gabon.

Schweitzer considered his work as a medical missionary in Africa to be his response to Jesus’ call to become “fisher’s of men.” It is interesting to note, at the end of his life he became convinced that “modern civilization” was inferior to previous cultures in terms of morality.

Colonialism

Albert Schweitzer was one of colonialism’s harshest critics. About colonialism he said,

“I will not enumerate all the crimes that have been committed under the pretext of justice. People (Europeans) robbed native inhabitants of their land, made slaves of them, let loose the scum of mankind upon them. … We decimate them, and then, by the stroke of a pen, we take their land so they have nothing left at all.”

Albert Ian Schweitzer

Born 1971 - "He's my angel."

One Albert Schweitzer is an innocent man spending his life in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Albert Ian Schweitzer was born in 1971 in Hawai’i, island of Oahu. He was named after the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Although part Swiss, he is mostly of Native Hawaiian descent. Albert Ian Schweitzer attended Pahoa High School and had a paper route, delivering the Hawaii Tribune-Herald by bicycle. His brother, Shawn Schweitzer, helped Ian deliver the paper. One of their supervisors considered them, “good kids.”

Jerry Schweitzer, father of Ian and Shawn, has always been gainfully employed; he has good personal and mechanical skills. Linda Schweitzer, mother of Ian and Shawn, was a victim counselor for the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office at the time of the murder of Dana Ireland. She is also a former bank teller and sold Hawaiian crafts that she wove out of palm fronds. The Schweitzer family was active in their church and by all accounts good law-abiding people. 

After being convicted of rape and murder by a Hilo jury, Ian Schweitzer appeared before Judge Amano on April 24, 2000, for sentencing. Albert Ian Schweitzer's father, Jerry Schweitzer, told the judge,

"He's my angel. And just because he doesn't have blue eyes and blond hair, he's still my angel. He's a good kid."

Frank Pauline Jr.

1973-2015

The  only  evidence against Albert Ian Schweitzer was the testimony of three convicted felons, each a known liar, each seeking favors from law enforcement in exchange for their testimony.

Frank Pauline Jr. was a convicted felon and well-known liar. Why would anyone believe him when he said he committed the murder with Ian? Then, when Frank Pauline recanted his confession, law enforcement still believed Frank Pauline’s original confession. Why would they believe Frank Pauline?

During his 2000 Hilo jury trial, two convicted felons were the only witnesses against Ian Schweitzer. Frank Pauline did not testify.

Michael Ortiz, convicted felon who received time-off his sentence and favors from the prosecution, testified that while he was in the same jail, Ian told him he accidentally ran over Dana Ireland. Why would anyone believe Michael Ortiz?

Shayne Kobayashi, convicted felon who received time-off his sentence, testified that on the day of the murder he saw Ian, Shawn, and Frank Pauline together driving in the direction of Dana Ireland. Why would anyone believe Shayne Kobayashi?

The only witnesses against Albert Ian Schweitzer were convicted felons and known liars, each seeking favors. Why would anyone believe them?

If you haven’t already done so, please watch “Who Killed Dana Ireland?” at www.judgesforjustice.org for more information about this shocking crime.

Judges for Justice does not intend to criticize any of the participants in the case – past or present. Error happens; it is part of the human condition and when recognized it is progress toward truth. It is never too late for the correction of error.

This is the 22 ^nd email from Judges for Justice. Stay tuned for the 23 ^rd .

Judge Michael Heavey (Ret.)