Conviction in manslaughter case is overturned

The suspect's rights were violated by a prosecutor's remarks, the high court rules

By Ken Kobayashi

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 17, 2012

~~<p>A city deputy prosecutor's remarks to jurors that they shouldn't get caught in the "mumbo jumbo" of the judge's instructions has led the Hawaii Supreme Court to overturn a manslaughter conviction for a man accused of recklessly killing a North Carolina visitor with a single punch.</p>
<p>In a 3-2 ruling Friday, the high court ordered a new trial for Less Schnabel Jr. on the manslaughter charge in the death of Christopher Reuther, who was visiting to consider enrolling at the University of Hawaii law school.</p>
~~

A city deputy prosecutor's remarks to jurors that they shouldn't get caught in the "mumbo jumbo" of the judge's instructions has led the Hawaii Supreme Court to overturn a manslaughter conviction for a man accused of recklessly killing a North Carolina visitor with a single punch.

In a 3-2 ruling Friday, the high court ordered a new trial for Less Schnabel Jr. on the manslaughter charge in the death of Christopher Reuther, who was visiting to consider enrolling at the University of Hawaii law school. Login for more...