Prosecutors to seek murder case review

City prosecutors will seek a state Supreme Court review of an appeals court decision this week that set aside a murder verdict and will ask that the conviction be reinstated.

In a unanimous decision Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the Intermediate Court of Appeals overturned the conviction of Tyler Condon in the stabbing of his cousin Jake Ira Hale at an Ewa townhouse in 2007.

The court held that Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro Jr. made an improper argument to the jury that misstated the law.

The jury rejected a manslaughter verdict, which Pacarro said required "overkill," according to the appeals court. Jurors returned a verdict of second-degree murder.

"We disagree with the ruling, and I would be remiss in my duties to protect the public if we didn’t seek a review with the Hawaii Supreme Court," Pacarro said yesterday.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Mock air crash set for Lihue

Lihue Airport will be the stage for an airliner crash simulation from 9:50 a.m. to 1 p.m. today by the state as an exercise for emergency responders.

Air travelers and motorists are asked to be aware of additional emergency vehicles and security personnel around the airport. All flight schedules and operations will continue normally.

The exercise will involve the airport’s response team, the Kauai Police and Fire departments, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, Wilcox Hospital and local airlines.

Maui pools face closures

WAILUKU » Budget cuts are affecting Maui’s swimming pools.

Six county pools will be closed once a week starting today due to budget and staffing cuts that have depleted the ranks of the Aquatic Division’s lifeguards.

Parks Director Tamara Horcajo says closures will be scheduled on different days so swimmers can find alternative pools.

The Kahului Pool and the Old Wailuku Pool will be reserved for scheduled programs only.

Two other pools will be closed entirely to open swimming. The Kahului Pool and the Old Wailuku Pool will be reserved for scheduled programs only.

The county’s budget cuts spending by 7 percent.