A decision is expected soon on whether the teenager accused of an 'Ewa Beach rape and murder last year will be tried as an adult.

A closed door hearing was held this morning in O'ahu Family Court.

The defendant, 15 at the time of the crime, is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling Karen Ertell, 51, in May 2007.

Ertell lived in the same neighborhood as the youth, who was arrested the day after the crime.

Ertell's body was found by police at her home after co-workers reported that she had not come to work.

Her boyfriend, Kevin Callahan, said yesterday, "It's good that the case is finally moving forward. It's been very frustrating having to wait all this time for something to happen."

Ertell's relatives on the Mainland "have been just ravaged" by the crime, he said. "I can't begin to tell you how broken up they are."

Family Court Judge Frances Wong held the waiver hearing and took the case under advisement.

Callahan said he believes a decision may be issued in the near future, perhaps next week.

Defense and prosecution lawyers declined to discuss the matter.

If the Family Court waives jurisdiction over the juvenile, he would be tried as an adult, facing up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of the charges.

If the Family Court retains jurisdiction, the defendant could be held in custody until he is 19 years old.

Law enforcement officials said after the suspect was arrested that he had a juvenile record of at least 10 arrests. The youth came to Hawai'i with his family from New Zealand in 2005.