Judge orders release of evidence in Dana Ireland case, police appeal to Supreme Court

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Big Island judge has ruled that Hawaii police must disclose new evidence in the Dana Ireland murder case and has forwarded the decision to the state Supreme Court.

This development follows a motion by the police seeking to prevent the release of evidence related to Albert Lauro Jr., who took his own life shortly after being interviewed and providing a DNA sample to authorities.

Attorneys from the Hawaii Innocence Project argue that they need the evidence to confirm Lauro’s role as the killer and to conclude their findings of “actual innocence” for Albert Ian Schweitzer and Shawn Schweitzer.

The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is seeking to withhold the evidence, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

However, Judge Peter Kubota’s ruling stated, “In all practical reality, the investigation into Albert Lauro Jr. and the murder of Dana Ireland is over.”

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Lauro was initially identified as a suspect through DNA matches from an independent lab, aided by federal and county police collaboration.