Son goes on trial for father’s murder in Lebanon

Sixth deadly domestic violence case in last half of 2016

A Lebanon man is to go on trial Monday on charges that he murdered his father in December in one of six deadly cases of domestic violence in the last half of 2016 in Warren County.

Freddie Green, 42, has been in the Warren County Jail since early Dec. 7, about six hours after he was arrested following the fatal shooting of his father, Sidney Green, 64, during an argument at the father’s home, 470 Oxford Ave. in Lebanon.

Green is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault.

“We believe that the defense will advance a theory of self-defense. The charging decision was done in anticipation of that,” Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said last week.

RELATED: Son claims he shot father in self defense

Green’s appointed lawyer, Jeff Richards, did not respond to requests for an interview leading up to the trial.

Sidney Green was the sixth and final victim of four deadly domestic violence cases in 2016, including two homicide-suicides each claiming the lives of both spouses and orphaning their children.

David Garrett, 39, and Traci-Fletcher Garrett, 41, died in a homicide-suicide in Hamilton Twp., outside Morrow in September and Eric Walker, 33, and Lauren Walker, 32, were killed in a homicide-suicide in July in Clearcreek Twp., outside Springboro.

RELATED: Second homicide-suicide in Warren County

Mercedes Robb, 35, is permitted to write letters to her children from the Warren County Jail, while awaiting trial for the murder of her ex-husband, Jason Robb.

RELATED: Ex-wife accused of killing husband will write to kids from jail

This deadly incident has left his parents and fiancee to care for the Robb children as well as a newborn.

“All of it just feels really sad,” fiancee Amanda Palmgren said in January. “I’m trying to put my life together. All I can do is try to keep myself as busy as possible.”

RELATED: Fiancee caring for three children, restarting life

Fornshell said the cluster of deadly domestic violence was a coincidence and pointed out it had not continued this year.

“No doubt 2016 in particular was a very bad year in our county for domestic violence fatalities,” Fornshell said via text message. “There’s nothing to suggest any type of connection between any of the cases. Thus far, that trend has not continued into 2017.”

RELATED: Experts work for antidotes to deadly domestic violence

While resulting in deadly domestic violence, the Green case was different, involving a father and son, who authorities said were arguing over problems stemming from the son’s heroin addiction.

The trial is expected to turn on the jury’s perspective on evidence and testimony on the degree to which Freddie Green intended to kill his father.

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“I took it from him. I fired and I shot him,” Green said in a 911 call reporting the incident. “I took the gun from him. He said something about grabbing another gun, so I fired.”

But prosecutors allege Green delayed calling 911, causing his father’s death.

“We don’t believe his explanation,” Fornshell said after the indictment. “We believe that 911 call was made several hours after he had killed Mr. Green.”

RELATED: Son accused of delaying 911 call after father’s shooting

The argument resulting in the elder Green being shot with his own gun also involved financial advantage the son was taking of his father, according to prosecutors.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday in Judge Timothy Tepe’s court.

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