Murder conviction upheld in stabbing case

James O’Hara

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 1:31 AM Tuesday, February 9, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — The 12th District Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Middletown man who is serving life in prison for the July 2007 slaying of his neighbor at a Wilbraham Road apartment complex.

James O’Hara, 35, was convicted in November 2008 in the stabbing death of Stanley Lawson. A Butler County jury found him guilty of aggravated murder as well as robbery, burglary and grand theft auto, but spared his life, sentencing him life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than impose the death penalty.

On the afternoon of July 22, 2007, Lawson was found dead in a pool of blood after his throat was slashed and he had been stabbed several times, according to trial evidence.

On appeal, O’Hara argued the state lacked direct evidence of his wrongdoing to justify his multiple convictions.

In a unanimous opinion, the appellate judges disagreed, stating there was sufficient evidence.

Witnesses said they saw O’Hara attempting to trade Lawson’s television, stereo and car for crack cocaine on the night of the man’s murder.

A search of O’Hara’s apartment by Middletown police turned up a bloody T-shirt, washcloth and a towel. Outside O’Hara’s apartment, police found his shoes containing Lawson’s blood and a dirty, bent kitchen knife.

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