'EWA BEACH — Honolulu police requested criminal records and family court files from New Zealand police in connection with the case of a 15-year-old boy accused of strangling an 'Ewa Beach woman, according to a law enforcement official.

It is not clear what, if any, criminal record the boy had in New Zealand prior to moving to 'Ewa Beach in 2005.

Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu said she could not confirm whether investigators here sought or received assistance because the case deals with a juvenile. New Zealand police spokeswoman Jane Archibald said Honolulu investigators requested some assistance in the 'Ewa Beach murder case, which New Zealand police provided.

The boy was arrested Saturday after he reportedly told his father he had strangled neighbor Karen Ertell, 51, and stole her blue Volvo.

Ertell, who died of "asphyxia due to manual strangulation," had several run-ins with the boy, according to family members, after the teen reportedly tried to steal money and other items from her home.

Prosecutors are seeking to charge the boy with second-degree murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft and other offenses. The boy was arrested about 10 p.m. Saturday at his 'Ewa Beach home after his father called police to turn in his son, police said.

The HPD request was facilitated through a New Zealand police liaison who has been based in Honolulu for about a year.

Archibald declined to provide details about the assistance, deferring any further comment to Honolulu police.

But she said, "It's standard investigation procedure; it was nothing unusual."

In addition to Honolulu, New Zealand police have liaisons in locations including Washington, D.C.; Beijing; and London, Archibald said.

The boy had been arrested more than 10 times in the two years since he moved to Hawai'i from New Zealand with his family, according to law enforcement officials.

He has been arrested for felony burglary, misdemeanor trespassing, misdemeanor theft, truancy, running away from home, and other offenses.

It was not known if he was convicted of any charges.

The boy is being held at the juvenile detention facility on Alder Street while prosecutors seek to try him as an adult.

City prosecutors will petition Family Court to waive its jurisdiction over the boy so he can be charged as an adult.

On Tuesday a family court judge scheduled a hearing for July to determine whether the boy will be tried as an adult.

Before adult charges can be brought, the prosecutor's office has to file a petition in Family Court. The Family Court holds hearings on the petition while investigating the case.

Family Court can waive jurisdiction if the minor is alleged to have committed murder and is deemed mentally fit to stand trial.

The mother and father of the juvenile suspect declined comment at their 'Ewa Beach home last night. The boy moved to Hawai'i from New Zealand with his father in mid-2005.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com and Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.