A 16-year-old was indicted this morning on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing last year of his 'Ewa Beach neighbor.

If convicted of the charge, Vernon Bartley would spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The O'ahu grand jury also indicted Bartley on second-degree charges of murder, rape and robbery, first-degree burglary and five other felonies.

First Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin said Bartley "attacked, raped, strangled and murdered 51-year-old Karen Ertell."

Chin explained that the first-degree murder charge was filed against Bartley because Ertell was scheduled to be a witness in an earlier burglary charge filed against Bartley.

The first-degree homicide charge is applicable in cases in which a judge, police officer or witness is killed.