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Widmer defense wants to rebut jurors’ statements

2nd juror in Widmer bathtub murder case influenced by ‘experiments’

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 5:12 PM Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The defense in the Ryan Widmer bathtub murder case has until Monday, June 22, to rebut some of the jury affidavits the prosecution filed last week.

Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel’s office filed seven affidavits June 10 from jury members. Some accused defense counsel Charlie Rittgers and his private investigator, Brenda Beyersdoerfer, of harassment while seeking affidavits regarding potentially improper jury deliberations.

The jury took almost 23 hours to find Widmer, 28, guilty of drowning his wife, Sarah Widmer, in the bathtub of their Hamilton Twp. home last August.

In one of the affidavits filed by the prosecution, juror Angela Roberts wrote she felt vilified by the entire process.

“I feel that the media attention and public response to our verdict, particularly after my name was released in the affidavit of Stephanie Sackman, the subpoena, the defense investigator hounding me and the defense attorney calling me, has made my life a living hell and has greatly impacted me and my family,” Roberts, who also swore out an affidavit for the defense, wrote. “Several people who have observed my recent ordeal have stated that it is not worth it being a juror and they will try to get out of jury service if summoned.”

Roberts also claimed she was never given an oath and the affidavit was not notarized in front of her. Rittgers said he wasn’t there when she came in to sign her affidavit, but usually his staff notarizes an affidavit right after a person signs it.

Rittgers filed a request asking Bronson to allow him to respond to the prosecutor’s filings.

“The defense will be providing substantive material that will contradict much of what is being alleged by the state, which will include e-mails, faxes and affidavits,” Rittgers wrote.

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