Post by thinkinkmesa on Jul 13, 2011 10:36:47 GMT -5
Convicted killer pleads for clemency
The Ohio Parole Board heard competing arguments Tuesday over whether to recommend clemency for condemned Akron murderer Brett Hartmann.
The board will issue its recommendation to Gov. John Kasich, who can either grant Hartmann a life sentence or allow his execution. Hartmann is scheduled to be executed Aug. 16 in Lucasville.
He was sentenced to die in 1998 for the previous year’s kidnapping and slaying of Winda Snipes, 46, who was found dead in her South Highland Avenue apartment. Snipes was stabbed more than 130 times and her hands were severed.
Summit County Assistant Prosecutor Brad Gessner said after the hearing in Columbus that Hartmann’s guilt is unquestionable. He also defended his office’s refusal to release crime-scene evidence for DNA testing.
He said previous testing only further linked Hartmann to the crime and any more testing would be useless. He also contends that Hartmann, 37, took a polygraph test last week while in prison and failed all questions, including a question about his name.
Public defenders Michael Benza reiterated arguments for more DNA testing. Hartmann denies any involvement in the slaying.
His attorneys this week filed papers in federal court seeking to force prosecutors to surrender the items for forensic testing.
Benza said after the hearing that Hartmann’s lie-detector results are meaningless because his body was not suitable for the exam. He pointed to the name question as proof that Hartmann was physically incapable of providing a conclusive test.
www.ohio.com/news/local/convicted-killer-pleads-for-clemency-1.224909
The Ohio Parole Board heard competing arguments Tuesday over whether to recommend clemency for condemned Akron murderer Brett Hartmann.
The board will issue its recommendation to Gov. John Kasich, who can either grant Hartmann a life sentence or allow his execution. Hartmann is scheduled to be executed Aug. 16 in Lucasville.
He was sentenced to die in 1998 for the previous year’s kidnapping and slaying of Winda Snipes, 46, who was found dead in her South Highland Avenue apartment. Snipes was stabbed more than 130 times and her hands were severed.
Summit County Assistant Prosecutor Brad Gessner said after the hearing in Columbus that Hartmann’s guilt is unquestionable. He also defended his office’s refusal to release crime-scene evidence for DNA testing.
He said previous testing only further linked Hartmann to the crime and any more testing would be useless. He also contends that Hartmann, 37, took a polygraph test last week while in prison and failed all questions, including a question about his name.
Public defenders Michael Benza reiterated arguments for more DNA testing. Hartmann denies any involvement in the slaying.
His attorneys this week filed papers in federal court seeking to force prosecutors to surrender the items for forensic testing.
Benza said after the hearing that Hartmann’s lie-detector results are meaningless because his body was not suitable for the exam. He pointed to the name question as proof that Hartmann was physically incapable of providing a conclusive test.
www.ohio.com/news/local/convicted-killer-pleads-for-clemency-1.224909