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2012 trial set for Belton in slaying of store clerk
While awaiting the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision on whether the capital case against Anthony Belton is to return to Lucas County Common Pleas Court, a 2012 trial date has been set.
Mr. Belton, 25, is charged with aggravated murder with death-penalty specifications, and aggravated robbery for the Aug. 13, 2008, shooting death of Matthew Dugan, a BP convenience-store clerk.
Common Pleas Court Judge Ruth Ann Franks vacated the trial that was to begin last week and set a Jan. 23 trial date.
Defense attorneys, who unsuccessfully challenged portions of the state’s death-penalty law to the trial court, have since filed with the appellate court. The appeal was initially dismissed, but the appellate court then granted permission to refile.
Claiming the appellate court wrongly agreed to hear the appeal, Prosecutor Julia Bates’ office filed a complaint against the 6th Ohio District Court of Appeals in June to stop the appellate process. The issue has yet to be decided by the Supreme Court.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/20...e-clerk-2.html
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