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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 4:31 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2007

Former Honolulu federal prosecutor killed in Africa

By KEN KOBAYASHI
Advertiser Courts Writer

John Peyton, a former longtime assistant U.S. attorney here who later served as head of the Department of Public Safety, died this week in a car crash in Africa.

Peyton, 62, who was helping the legal system in Malawi in southeast Africa, and his wife, Eileen, were on vacation on their way to Victoria Falls when they were involved in the car crash, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Enoki said.

The wife was hospitalized, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, Enoki said.

Peyton worked at the U.S. attorney's office for two decades starting in 1983. His most famous case was prosecuting Ronald Rewald, who was imprisoned in 1985 for defrauding victims of millions of dollars through the bogus firm of Bishop, Baldwin, Rewald, Dillingham & Wong.

Peyton's tenure also included an assignment to the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina as resident legal adviser.

In 2003, Gov. Linda Lingle appointed Peyton as head of the Department of Public Safety. He resigned the following year to return to Bosnia and help the nation's legal system. He later worked for the United States Agency for International Development to help with the Republic of Malawi's legal system.

"John was a larger-than-life figure," Enoki said. "He was a reliable guy you could always count on, willing to lend a hand in just about any kind of endeavor to help the community."

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.