Jurors Names Kept Secret from Lawyers in Trial Over Murder of Criminal Defense Attorney
Jury selection began this morning, under extraordinary security measures, for the trial of a man accused of killing an Ohio criminal defense attorney who was his live-in girlfriend and, subsequently, an alleged witness to that crime.
Even defense lawyers aren’t being told the names of jurors who are to hear the case against Calvin McKelton in the July 26, 2008 strangling death of Margaret Allen, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer.
And, until this morning, prosecutors were also allowed to keep the names of eight witnesses secret.
McKelton, who is in his early thirties, is facing charges of murder, aggravated arson, evidence tampering and gross abuse of a corpse concerning Allen, as well as felonious assault and domestic violence concerning incidents prior to her death.
After Allen’s murder, McKelton allegedly hunted down and shot to death, execution-style, a witness to Allen’s slaying, Germaine Evans Sr., in Feb. 2009. In addition to aggravated murder, he faces a witness intimidation charge concerning Evans.
An earlier Enquirer article says that Allen, who was 37, was a skilled defense lawyer who represented McKelton in domestic violence, felonious assault and traffic cases.
Neither article contains any comment from McKelton or his counsel in the Butler County murder case.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Pillsbury Winthrop Tax Attorney May Have Been Victim of Domestic Murder-Suicide, Authorities Say”
