Convicted killer Maryann Acker returned to a Honolulu court yesterday morning, 27 years after a jury found her guilty of murdering Lawrence Hasker in 1978.

Acker, who has also been convicted of homicide in California, was granted a new trial in the Honolulu murder case by Circuit Judge Michael Town, who ruled that evidence about her then-husband and co-defendant, William Acker, should have been disclosed to the defense in the first trial.

Acker attended a pretrial hearing before Town yesterday, proclaiming her innocence to reporters during a break in the proceedings.

After allegedly killing Hasker here in 1978, the Ackers flew to California and five days later robbed and killed a man there.

William Acker was arrested in the California case in 1979 and gave evidence implicating his wife in the Hawai'i murder.

They were convicted of murder in California and William Acker was the main witness against his wife here after he pleaded guilty to robbery and was given immunity on other charges.

Maryann Acker was sentenced to life in prison here and in California.

The Hawai'i Paroling Authority set her minimum time behind bars at 30 years.

Jury selection in the retrial is scheduled to begin next week.