COLUMBUS (AP) -- The Ohio Supreme Court has refused to hear a Southwest Ohio man's bid for a fourth trial in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife.
The state's highest court Wednesday declined jurisdiction in Ryan Widmer's appeal of last year's ruling by the state's 12th District Court of Appeals. Widmer's attorneys contended police improperly removed the couple's bathtub from their home as evidence.
The 12th District court in January rejected a separate appeal focused on a detective's alleged misconduct and lack of testing of Sarah Widmer's remains for a possible genetic disorder. Attorney Michele Berry-Godsey says she is asking the state Supreme Court to review that appeal, and will go to federal courts on the bathtub removal appeal.
Widmer is serving 15 years to life for a 2011 murder conviction.
January 14 coverage:
Widmer Denied A Fourth Trial In The Death Of His Wife
WARREN COUNTY -- There will be no fourth trial for a Warren County man convicted of murdering his wife...at least for the time being.
A state appeals court Monday turned down a request for appeal by the attorney's representing Ryan Widmer, who was convicted in his third trial of drowning his wife in the bathtub of their home in 2011.
However, the saga is not yet concluded since the case can still be appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court for its consideration.
August 28 coverage:
Ryan Widmer Again Appealing Murder Conviction
WARREN COUNTY -- A Warren County man convicted of killing his wife in 2008 is appealing the decision.
Widmer's first trial in 2009 ended with a guilty verdict. Jurors agreed with the prosecution that Widmer drowned his 24-year-old wife. His defense claimed she suffered from a medical problem that led to her drowning death.
That conviction was overturned because jurors conducted at-home experiments regarding the trial.
Another jury found him guilty in February 2011 and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
This is the second time Ryan Widmer has appealed his case. Widmer's lawyers also filed an unsuccessful appeal in March 2011.
The state's highest court Wednesday declined jurisdiction in Ryan Widmer's appeal of last year's ruling by the state's 12th District Court of Appeals. Widmer's attorneys contended police improperly removed the couple's bathtub from their home as evidence.
The 12th District court in January rejected a separate appeal focused on a detective's alleged misconduct and lack of testing of Sarah Widmer's remains for a possible genetic disorder. Attorney Michele Berry-Godsey says she is asking the state Supreme Court to review that appeal, and will go to federal courts on the bathtub removal appeal.
Widmer is serving 15 years to life for a 2011 murder conviction.
January 14 coverage:
Widmer Denied A Fourth Trial In The Death Of His Wife
WARREN COUNTY -- There will be no fourth trial for a Warren County man convicted of murdering his wife...at least for the time being.
A state appeals court Monday turned down a request for appeal by the attorney's representing Ryan Widmer, who was convicted in his third trial of drowning his wife in the bathtub of their home in 2011.
However, the saga is not yet concluded since the case can still be appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court for its consideration.
August 28 coverage:
Ryan Widmer Again Appealing Murder Conviction
WARREN COUNTY -- A Warren County man convicted of killing his wife in 2008 is appealing the decision.
Widmer's first trial in 2009 ended with a guilty verdict. Jurors agreed with the prosecution that Widmer drowned his 24-year-old wife. His defense claimed she suffered from a medical problem that led to her drowning death.
That conviction was overturned because jurors conducted at-home experiments regarding the trial.
Another jury found him guilty in February 2011 and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
This is the second time Ryan Widmer has appealed his case. Widmer's lawyers also filed an unsuccessful appeal in March 2011.
