Murder suspect, trial witness mistakenly put in same cell
LIMA, Ohio - An Ohio sheriff says a guard mistakenly put a murder suspect in a holding cell with another inmate who was about to testify against him, and a fight ensued.
The Lima News reports that the men weren't handcuffed when the guard put them together in a cell during a break in the trial this week.
Sheriff Sam Crish told the paper the guard erred and that it is not standard operating procedure. He said an investigation will be conducted as to how that happened.
Crish says authorities broke up the altercation within two minutes. He says the men suffered only minor injuries.
The defendant, Markelus Carter, is charged with aggravated murder with a firearm and having a gun under a court sanction. The witness, unnamed, was about to testify against Carter.
The holding cell was out of public view, but the sheriff says the fight was recorded on video.
The judge later denied a defense request for a mistrial because of the fight, and he said the video can be shown to the jury.