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Bathtub drowning trial delayed until May

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Ryan Widmer is led out of a Warren County courtroom after being found guilty of murder in the August 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, April 2 in Lebanon. Widmer's conviction was later thrown out after Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson ruled there was jury misconduct during deliberations. Widmer's second trial has been delayed until May.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Ryan Widmer is led out of a Warren County courtroom after being found guilty of murder in the August 2008 drowning of his wife, Sarah, April 2 in Lebanon. Widmer's conviction was later thrown out after Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson ruled there was jury misconduct during deliberations. Widmer's second trial has been delayed until May.

By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer Updated 4:56 PM Monday, February 8, 2010

LEBANON — The retrial for accused killer Ryan Widmer has been postponed until May.

Widmer’s new attorney Hal Arenstein said the retrial has been rescheduled from March 15 to May 10.

“We needed a little more time to line up some experts,” he said.

Widmer, 29, was convicted of murder for allegedly drowning his bride, Sarah Widmer, in the bathtub of their Hamilton Twp. home in August 2008. He was sentenced to 15 years to life on April 2, 2009, following a two-week trial and 22 hours of jury deliberations.

After a bizarre series of events, Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Neal Bronson granted Widmer a new trial last fall after he determined jurors committed misconduct.

Some jurors admitted to experimenting at home to see how long it takes to air dry after bathing. The drowning scene was virtually dry, which led jurors to believe Widmer staged his 911 call after he killed his wife.

Bronson had blocked out three weeks for the retrial. He also was going to call all potential jurors in 10 days prior to the trial, to determine whether any jurors have hardships — like child or elder care obligations — that would prevent them from serving in a lengthy trial.

Widmer has been free on a $400,000 bond since the 12th District Court of Appeals refused to consider Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel’s appeal of Bronson’s retrial ruling. Widmer is living with his mother, Jill Widmer, in Mason.

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