Suspect's age delays trial in Ertell case

Court takes time considering if teen suspect is adult STORY SUMMARY READ THE FULL STORY It will be more than a year after a 51-year-old woman's body was found at her Ewa Beach home that a Family Court judge ...

[Duh]

Send his sorry behind to jail for the rest of his life. This guy is a menace to society.

[Big Okole]

He should be tried as an adult.

[DISPLACED LOCAL BOY]

Tommy Waters should be voted out, " the system is working"
if ANY government is involved, the system IS NOT working.
so not changeing the law only protects the criminals, good thinking

[Aiea]

Lock him up and send him away, or he's going to hurt someone else when he grows up.

[Disgusted]

His record indicates a constant and progressive pattern of crime. If he continues to be treated as a juvenile and allowed to be on the street in a few years, we will have another career predatory criminal on the street. Our laws and courts are suppose to be provide justice. When they cannot and do not, they invite vigilantiism or revenge.

[bmillies]

Of course he should be tried as an adult. It seems like the laws in Hawaii are made to protect the CRIMINALS.

[Kaila Kini]

I think that the systen is to easy on teens that commit crimes. I think that if they are old enough to do a crime such as murder or rape they are old enough to be tried as an adult. Maybe if we start not feeling sorry because they are young they will get the message and start worrying about what will happen if they get caught and feel that I am young so I will get a free pass.

[hoku]

bmillies wrote:

Of course he should be tried as an adult. It seems like the laws in Hawaii are made to protect the CRIMINALS.

Isn't THAT the truth! I am so tired of criminals here having more rights than the victims! Build more prisons and lock them up for their FULL sentences. Get rid of the revolving door.

In this case the boy had many chances in the Family Court, and failed to learn from his mistakes. In fact he killed Ertell to keep her from testifying against him. He obviously was competent enough to think that through so he shouldn't be able to use the insanity defense. With such a heinous crime it should be a no brainer. Try him as an adult. Too bad we don't have the death penalty.

[Kaila Kini]

If you are old enough to do the crime you are old enough to do the time. If there were no free passes then maybe it would be a safer place.

[manini_fish]

We need to be more like Conservative Las Vegas courts...About two months ago two teens were involved in a drive by shooting near a school on a Wednesday...by Friday the 19 year old driver and the 15 year old shooter were pictured in the newspapers and charged as adults. Our family courts...all linked to Democrats have not guts or worse yet...no balls!!!

[REAL]

..." But if found guilty in adult court of first-degree murder, the juvenile would face a mandatory life term without parole, the state's harshest sentence."

I guess raping then murdering an innocent person isn't harsh enough?

Wouldn't you think anyone committing an adult crime be tried as an adult?

Besides, since when is the severity of rape and murder lessened because of the perpetuators age?

OOhh yeah, I forgot, it's only a kid who isn't mature to know any better!!

[Renny]

Age shouldn't be used as an excuse to exonerate someone of heinous crimes. Adult crime, adult time.

[Renny]

Judge Francis Wong should be recalled and the Family Court system abolished.

[Sam]

DISPLACED LOCAL BOY wrote:

Tommy Waters should be voted out, " the system is working"
if ANY government is involved, the system IS NOT working.
so not changeing the law only protects the criminals, good thinking

This was a good bill introduced by Rep. Kimberly Pine. Rep Tommy Waters did a disservice to the community by his lack of action.

[Honolulu]

Aside from punishment, retribution, and justice, the more important consideration is to get this evil off the streets and away from innocent law abiding citizens. We already have too much of these that have not yet been convicted.

[An Observer]

I think Waters' performance as Judiciary chair has been miserable. But I somewhat agree with him on this one. The approach that might be taken is that for certain crimes such as murder,sexual assault, there should be an automatic wavier unless the Family Court rules otherwise. the burden of proof should be on the defense. But refusing to hold a hearing -- that's a sign of weakness or arrogance. Discuss options, reach a consensus.

[Kahuku]

Seems to be overwhelming support for Rep. Kimberly Pine's bill by HPD. Rep Waters, what were you thinking?

[J Elizabeth]

The family court knew he was underage a year ago. What a bunch of buffoons!!!!!!!! I wonder how old he will be next year? DUH!!!!!!!! Get off your butts and do something, instead of standing around with your fingers up your noses trying to figure out what to do. DO SOMETHING. It's just a waste of taxpayers money. I bet if it were their own dollars, they would surely speed things up. IDIOTS, IDIOITS, IDIOTS.

[Kuntakinte]

Hang em'high. This punk will get off and continue his career as an adult criminal. Society will continue to pay for his rehab and incarceration as he goes in and out of justice system. He will continue to victimize law abiding citizens and our liberal justice system and judges will continue to let him loose to commit more mayhem in our society. Our current laws are set up to protect the criminal not the victim.

Next election, I will be voting for any unknown or someone new on the ballot. It is time to clean house.

[jonathan]

Let's save $34,000 a year in prison costs to house this jackass. Bring the death penalty to Hawaii. Imagine the amount of money that could be saved; especially with the "revolving door" of chronic criminal offenders. Hmmmm, wonder where that money could be better spent. Send 'em all to their maker and let Him judge.