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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hawaii teen convicted of murdering neighbor; life sentence to be sought


By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

Seventeen-year-old Vernon Bartley was convicted this afternoon of murdering his Ewa Beach neighbor Karen Ertell three years ago.

Prosecutors said they will ask that Bartley, who turns 18 next month, serve the rest of his life in prison.
Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall, who presided over the nonjury trial, called a 15-minute recess in the case after First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin and defense lawyer Jeffrey Hawk delivered their closing arguments in the case.
That recess stretched to 45 minutes, then Crandall returned to deliver her verdict.
She acquitted Bartley of a second-degree rape charge, ruling that the prosecution had not proved that the victim was alive when the sexual assault occurred.
Crandall also acquitted Bartley of a robbery charge but convicted him of theft, burglary, fraud and computer crimes.
She set sentencing for May 3.