Court rejects teachers union bid

The public school teachers union has failed in its bid to compel the state labor board to issue a ruling in a petition for relief from the terms of a contract imposed in July 2011.

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board has discretion over when it will rule.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association had asked the court to force the board to issue a ruling, saying it has had more than enough time to consider the case’s merits.

The high court had previously said the board could not be compelled to rule in the union’s prohibited-practice case against the state, which argues the imposed contract violated members’ rights. Hearings in the case spanned 10 months, ending in May. HSTA has said it cannot strike until the board makes a ruling.

High surf advisory continued

The National Weather Service has extended a high surf advisory for east-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island to 6 p.m. Friday.

A tradewind swell associated with a high-pressure system far north of the state is generating the surf.

The city Department of Emergency Management said surf will peak today at 7 to 9 feet.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

 

Killing gets man life in prison

A Washington state man who beat his girlfriend to death at a Kohala hotel last year has been sentenced to life in prison.

Philip Howard Zimmerman, 47, was sentenced Tuesday in Circuit Court for second-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Susan Brockert, 44, at the Fairmont Orchid hotel on May 23, 2011, West Hawaii Today reported. The Bellevue, Wash., couple was vacationing  when Zimmerman killed her.

The life sentence plus another 20 years for kidnapping means that Zimmerman will never be eligible for parole.

Resort employees testified that they rushed to the fifth-floor room and kicked in the door after guests reported screaming. A housekeeper testified he saw Zimmerman hit Brockert with a large piece of granite from the room’s coffee table.

Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra at sentencing described the murder as especially brutal and heartless.
Zimmerman pleaded guilty in June to murder, kidnapping and criminal property damage.