|
Associated Press Tuesday Ohio Headlines - 3/2/2010
Latest Ohio news, sports, business and entertainment:
CYANIDE DEATH
Deliberations coming in Ohio cyanide murder trial
CLEVELAND (AP) - A jury in Cleveland is getting ready to begin its work in the case of a doctor accused of killing his wife with cyanide.
Deliberations in the murder trial of Dr. Yazeed Essa (EE'-suh) are likely to begin today after the jurors receive instructions from the judge.
During yesterday's closing arguments, prosecutors told the jury there was overwhelming evidence that Essa poisoned his wife with a calcium tablet laced with cyanide. A defense lawyer said there was no motive for Essa to risk destroying a happy family and professional life.
Essa has pleaded not guilty in the 2005 death of his wife, Rosemarie. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with parole possible after 20 years.
RUNAWAY CONVERT
Ohio Muslim-to-Christian convert returns to court
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio teenage convert who ran away to Florida, allegedly with help from Christian pastors, goes back to court in a lengthy custody dispute with her family.
Rifqa Bary and her parents were scheduled to appear today before a juvenile court judge in Columbus who thought the case had been resolved more than a month ago.
A deal between the 17-year-old girl and her parents to resolve their conflict through counseling fell apart shortly after it was struck in January.
Bary emigrated from Sri Lanka as a child with her family. She claims she would be harmed or killed for converting to Christianity.
Her parents deny the claim, and police in Columbus and Florida found no evidence she was in danger.
FIRE-CHILDREN DEAD
Ohio couple gets 4 years in deadly fire
MARION, Ohio (AP) - Calling their conduct "inexcusable," an Ohio judge has sentenced a couple to four years in prison for allowing their two young children to die in a fire.
Marion County Common Pleas Judge Robert Davidson yesterday ignored a recommendation from prosecutors that he give Daniel Barrett and Cheyenne Tackett just 30 days in jail.
They had pleaded guilty to child endangering in a fire last May that killed 2-year-old Jacob Tackett and 8-month-old Madison Barrett. Investigators said the blaze was started by another child playing with a lighter while the parents were sleeping at the family's apartment in Marion, 42 miles north of Columbus.
Prosecutors said the couple often stayed up late and slept during the day, leaving the children unsupervised.
WEDDING DAY BIRTH
And baby makes 3 - on Ohio couple's wedding day
SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio woman taken to a maternity ward in her wedding dress has become a newlywed and a new mom on the same day.
Jamie Phillips says she felt contractions while her father walked her down the aisle during her wedding ceremony Saturday in Toledo, but she thought it was a false alarm. It wasn't until after her water broke at the reception that she was rushed to a hospital in suburban Sylvania.
The son who was born, Tova Phillips, wasn't due until March 7. His mother and her new husband, Mark Phillips, didn't think the baby would come quite so soon when they planned the wedding two weeks earlier.
Both parents say they wanted to "do the right thing" and get married before the baby's arrival, which is why they cut things so close.
---
Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/
OFFICER SHOT
Ohio officer shot, suspect later found dead
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio police officer has been shot in a confrontation with a man who authorities say was later found dead inside an apartment.
Columbus police say officers responding to a report of a domestic dispute knocked at the apartment late last night and were met with gunfire coming through the door. One officer was shot in the leg.
Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect and were later joined by SWAT members, who set off tear gas and entered the apartment after a 90-minute standoff. Inside, police say they found a man dead of an apparent gunshot wound. It's not clear if it was self-inflicted or if the shot came from an officer's gun.
The wounded officer was hospitalized in stable condition. Names have not been released.
ALPACA KILLED
3 charged in Ohio alpaca death
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) - Authorities have charged three people in the theft and fatal beating of a baby alpaca in southwest Ohio.
Butler County sheriff's officials say two 17-year-old boys are charged in juvenile court with animal cruelty, breaking and entering, and tampering with evidence. A 22-year-old woman faces complicity charges, for allegedly driving the truck the alpaca was moved in.
The 3-month-old alpaca, named Masterpiece, was reported stolen February 19 from a farm near Middletown. Authorities say the animal was beaten, put in a truck, and dumped in an abandoned barn.
The alpaca had a value of at least $8,000. Alpacas are similar to llamas and native to South America. They're prized for their wool.
DIPS RECALLED
Ohio company recalls dips because of salmonella concerns
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The T. Marzetti Company of Columbus is recalling certain flavors and production codes of its T. Marzetti veggie dips, Oak Lake chip dips and Great Value chip dips.
The dips are being recalled because they could be contaminated with salmonella, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
No illnesses have been reported. The recalled dips were sold in various parts of the United States, depending on the brand and flavor.
(Details: by phone at 800-427-0147; by Web at http://www.marzetti.com/.)
DANCING WITH THE STARS-SPORTS
Ochocinco among new 'Dancing With the Stars' cast
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chad Ochocinco is putting on his dancing shoes for TV.
Known for his touchdown celebrations in the end zone, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is taking his act from the gridiron to the stage as a contestant on the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars."
Gold medal figure skater Evan Lysacek and sportscaster Erin Andrews will also compete.
Lysacek recently became the first American man since Brian Boitano to win the Olympic gold in Vancouver. Andrews is an ESPN reporter who was in the headlines last year after a man shot nude videos of her through a hotel room peephole and posted them online.
"Dancing With the Stars" returns March 22 with a cast that includes model-actress Pamela Anderson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
JAMES-UNIFORM NUMBER
Report: James files paperwork for number change
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Plain Dealer is reporting that LeBron James has filed paperwork with the NBA to change his uniform number.
The Cavaliers superstar tells the Cleveland newspaper that he will switch from Number 23 to Number 6, the number he wore with the U.S. Olympic team.
James said in November he was considering the change out of respect to Michael Jordan, who wore Number 23. Paperwork had to be filed this week to request a number change for next season.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-02-10 0902EST
|
