Trial delayed in fatal stabbing

Lockland man accused of killing mother of two.

Contributed photo Andy Gobran

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By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer Updated 8:44 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

HAMILTON — Two days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the trial of a Lockland man charged with the slaying of a Hamilton woman, the trial was postponed until December.

Andy Gobran, 28, of Hillside Avenue, was indicted in August by a Butler County grand jury on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in the stabbing death of 30-year-old Alisa Traylor.

His trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 4, before Butler County Common Please Judge Patricia Oney. But during a hearing Monday, the trial date was continued until Dec. 9 at the request of the defense, according to court records.

Defense attorney David Washington said Gobran wants to get the trial behind him to prove his innocence.

“They (the prosecution) came forth with some additional information I have to go through. I don’t think it is Earth-shattering, but I need time to review it,” Washington said.

He said his client is not guilty of the charges.

“He didn’t kill her,” Washington said.

Traylor’s body was found Oct. 25, 2008 by children at play by trash bins near Seventh Street and Pershing Avenue in Hamilton’s 4th Ward. The mother of two had been stabbed with a knife 27 times in the back and the side, according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Washington filed a motion last month to suppress statements Gobran made to police. Following a hearing, Oney denied that motion.

Gobran remains housed in the Butler County Jail in lieu of a $1.5 million bond.

Hamilton police said Gobran initially denied knowing Traylor, but detectives said the suspect contacted the police department after learning a search warrant had been issued to collect DNA samples in connection with the case.

Gobran allegedly told police several stories about what happened to Traylor, ranging from him running way after hearing another person taunting Traylor, to another man trying to rob him, to Traylor stabbing him in the leg, according to police.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.

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