HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii's local, state and federal prosecutors and police chiefs are asking the Legislature for two new criminal laws.
In a statement released by state Attorney General David Louie, the Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition wants an amendment to the statute on murder in the second degree.
The coalition says suspects now can try to avoid murder convictions by claiming their acts weren't intended to result in death.
Prosecutors say they'd like the law to allow conviction of second-degree murder if a suspect intends to cause serious bodily injury and the victim dies.
The second change would raise the level of murder and assault offenses when the victim has obtained certain types of protective orders.
