Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Prosecutor won't seek Widmer hearing
Written by Janice Morse • jmorse@enquirer.com   
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 14:25

Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel said Wednesday she will not ask for a further hearing in the Ryan Widmer murder case.

She said she will not seek the hearing "out of respect" for the jurors.

On Tuesday, the judge in the case issued a decision that Widmer's lawyers say likely means a new trial in the bathtub drowning of Widmer's wife Sarah, 24, in August 2008.

The judge also ruled that either side could request a new hearing on the evidence, which could have meant jurors would be questioned.

Hutzel said she will allow the judge to make his final decision based on paperwork her office has already filed.

Widmer, 28, of Hamilton Township, was convicted of murder in April and sentenced to serve 15 years to life in prison.

His lawyers have asked Judge Neal Bronson to order a new trial because they allege that some of the jurors conducted what amounted to experiments to see how quickly a person can dry after a bath.

In his ruling, Judge Bronson stopped short of directly stating that Widmer is on the verge of getting a retrial.

But the judge did say that jurors' so-called "experiments" on how long it took their own bodies to air-dry after showering "are deemed external influences that could have impacted upon (Widmer's) Sixth Amendment right" to confront witnesses against him.


Mike Mayleben
Written on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 14:25 by Mike Mayleben

Viewed 2761 times so far.
Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

Rate this article

(0 votes)

Latest articles from Mike Mayleben

Latest 'tweets' from Ryan Widmer

  • Widmer attorney files second appeal in 12th District Court http://t.co/29CG0say Link Friday, 03 February 2012 10:34
  • A story that aired again on PBS - very interesting information. http://t.co/HEBl3yVV Link Thursday, 02 February 2012 15:56
  • "If he was the lead officer on that case, yeah, was it done correctly? Was everything on the up and up? Or did he... http://t.co/3vgLASx4 Link Wednesday, 01 February 2012 06:19
  • Corruption, led by disgraced "Lt." Braley finally loses. Sometimes it doesn't pay to abuse your position -... http://t.co/gBEtdcep Link Saturday, 28 January 2012 02:45
  • liar liar, pants on fire. http://t.co/KCaPyHpB Link Monday, 23 January 2012 16:51