The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered new trials for two convicted killers. Jim Letizia reports.
The justices have ordered a new trial for a Grove City man convicted of killing his parents in 1994. They cited a conflict of interest, saying 48-year-old Robert Caulley's defense attorney had a romantic relationship with his wife, Celeste Bowman, during the trial. The ruling upholds a decision by a Franklin County judge and the County Court of Appeals. Caulley says he is not guilty of killing Charles and Lois Caulley inside of their Jackson Township home. He is serving a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says he will appeal. The court has also ordered a new trial for a man convicted of killing a drug dealer. The justices say a Michigan police detective should not have been allowed to testify about something an accomplice of Thomas Ricks told him. The justices say the testimony of detective Michael Steckel about statements by Aaron Gipson helped identify Ricks as the man who killed Calvin Harper in 2008. The justices say that testimony violated Ricks' constitutional right to confront witnesses. Ricks is serving a life sentence, while Gipson is serving 30 years to life.