Today is the deadline for the next volley to be fired in the Ryan Widmer case.

Warren County prosecutors are expected to argue against Widmer's lawyers' request that Judge Neal Bronson acquit their client in the 2008 bathtub-drowning of Widmer's wife, Sarah, 24.

Widmer's lawyers say that, after two mistrials, they think no reasonable jury could unanimously agree in the much-debated case.

A 2009 jury did unanimously acquit Widmer of aggravated murder and convicted him of murder -- but that verdict was influenced by juror misconduct, so Bronson threw it out and ordered a retrial.

Bronson will hear the lawyers argue further in a hearing set for Aug. 3. If he decides to acquit Widmer, the case is over and Widmer cannot be retried. But if the judge refuses to acquit Widmer, prosecutors must decide whether to take the case to a third trial.

Defense lawyers argue the case is laden with ambiguous evidence; several jurors who wanted to acquit Widmer agree.