|
PAT O’DONNELL |
HEATHER O’DONNELL |
An attorney for embattled married school administrators Patrick and Heather O’Donnell vowed the defense tactics would not violate the Ohio rape shield law when questioning the alleged victim during trial.
Dennis L. Pergram, who represents Heather O’Donnell, said he and Patrick O’Donnell’s attorney, Samuel H. Shamansky, will not ask questions that infer or suggest topics covered by the law which prohibits inquiries about past sexual activity.
Instead, the defense team intends to focus on the different parenting styles and family environments found in homes of the victim’s separated parents.
Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge William T. Goslee advised both attorneys that “it will not go well” if they broach the subject and reserved ruling on a motion filed Tuesday by Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart.
“Our fear is the innuendo will still be there,” Stewart said, “the inference will still be there, the suggestion will still be there.”
Tuesday was the final pretrial before a joint trial set for Feb. 6, 7 and 8.
Read complete story in Wednesday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!