One of the two decomposed bodies discovered off of Stainback Highway, in Hilo, Hawaii, is identified as Shayne Kobayashi. Kobayashi's body was discovered after the police received an anonymous tip.
Kobayashi, 38, was reported missing in early Dec. 2012 and was a key witness for the prosecution in the murder trial of Frank Pauline Jr., and brothers Shawn and Albert Ian Schweitzer. All three men were on trial for the rape and murder of Dana Ireland, in 1991. Ireland was a visiting tourist.
Jan. 24, Hawaii News Now reports, "Kobayashi took the witness stand on Aug. 2, 1999, and testified that he and the three men were at a beach park where Ireland was seen shortly before she was attacked.
"Did you folks notice her there?," asked deputy prosecutor Lincoln Ashida.
"Yes," replied Kobayashi.
"How did you notice her?"
"'Cause people in our group were talking like, 'Wow, look at that nice lady over there.'"
Kobayashi said Pauline and the Schweitzer's then left in the same direction as Ireland, and that the three men never showed up at a gathering set for later that night."
Shawn Schweitzer was 16-years-old at the time of the crime, he testified that his older brother Albert Ian Schweitzer and Frank Pauline Jr. ran down the 23-year-old Ireland as she was riding her bicycle in lower Puna. They beat and raped her, leaving her near death off an unpaved road. She died on Christmas Day 1991.
In 1999, Shawn Schweitzer received one year of probation, Albert Ian Schweitzer received 130-years and Frank Pauline Jr. received 180-years, minimum terms, for their roles in Ireland's murder. Kobayashi's testimony was part of a plea deal, in exchange for a leniency in his pending trial for sexual assault.
Kobayashi's cause of death is not yet known, but police suspect foul play.
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