Ryan, it ain't in the budget
Posted by UFreak in 
Ok, but what if you’re guilty?…
Ohio — A man charged in the 2008 bathtub drowning of his wife wants taxpayers to pay almost $50,000 for experts to testify at his third trial.
Ryan Widmer is accused of drowning his wife Sarah Widmer, 24, in the bathtub of the couple’s home in Warren County, north of Cincinnati.
Defendants who don’t have money to defend themselves can ask the state to pay for experts; Widmer’s attorneys filed a motion Wednesday asking the judge to declare him indigent, the Middletown Journal reported.
The Widmer family has spent almost $500,000 on Widmer’s bond and defense, and almost $300,000 of that was for expert witnesses and attorneys’ fees, Widmer’s attorney, Jay Clark wrote in the motion. He noted that Widmer, 30, has not been able to work since he was arrested in August 2008 and his mother, Jill Widmer, has exhausted her retirement and savings accounts.
“Without court approved funds for experts, the prosecution will ultimately win the war by putting Ryan in a position where he cannot muster the resources to present an effective defense,” the motion says.
A jury found Widmer guilty of murder in April 2009. The judge set that conviction aside after determining juror misconduct. Jurors in Widmer’s second trial could not reach a unanimous verdict required for conviction or acquittal and were dismissed.
Attorneys and others involved in the trial are under a gag order and cannot comment outside court.
Judge Neal Bronson on Wednesday ordered that a juror questionnaire be mailed, and court administrator Scott McVey said 200 potential jurors will be summoned. One hundred people were called for the previous trial.
The third trial is scheduled to start Jan. 18.
….and how are the taxpayers EVER going to know? There are cutbacks on top of cutbacks….Cops are being fired, libraries are closing, services cut/eliminated, and so much more. How can the taxpayers get value from funding expert witnesses in legal cases like this? Dude, you’ve had two of these trials already…what rock wasn’t turned over in the forst two? Plus, its not as if you weren’t found GUILTY already! Sure, a Judge had a problem with it and over turned it; - but it was Juror mis-conduct! It wasn’t like an eye witness wasn’t permitted to testify, or some medical report was buried! No, it was a juror who went home and did a little self-test in his home! Then, the second one ended mixed!
I feel bad for you, fellow Cardinal, but this isn’t really a good time for a big ass loan! The reasons? What if you did do it, and you ARE guilty?….Then you’re just out to “F” the people!,…and, second: Why should anyone who cant spend $50,000 on paid-for testimony, not also get it paid for? Its just ridiculous! From an investment standpoint, the value for the greater good isn’t there!
I know its not up to me, and that this “practice” of “asking” for the funds isn’t new…but, it does suck!…and it sucks because the taxpayers dont really get a say, AND because those scumbag layers end up getting it ALL!…AGAIN!. like they alsways do!….You’ve had two trials already! If your lawyer cant sell jurors by now, maybe there’s a good reason for that? Giving a panel of his Buddies $50K just doesn’t seem like its more important than one more Cop on the streets for another year!