YOUNGSTOWN Jury sees sites related to murder trial

By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Testimony was to begin today in the murder trial of Michael Hogan after jurors went for a bus ride Wednesday afternoon to Mill Creek Park, a cemetery and a recycling site near a fire station.
Those were among the stops lawyers had asked that jurors be permitted to view before they began hearing testimony in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Hogan, 38, of Boardman, is accused of driving a navy blue 1987 Cadillac Fleetwood that ran over and killed 71-year-old John Ruble of Struthers in May 2002. He is on trial in the courtroom of Judge James C. Evans.
Eight men and four women were seated as jurors Wednesday. They boarded a bus Wednesday afternoon and were taken to a recycling drop-off site behind the Boardman Township fire station on South Avenue.
Accusations against suspect
That's where authorities say Hogan snatched a purse belonging to Ruble's wife, Louise, who was sitting in the couple's car. Police said the Rubles had gone to the site to drop off recyclable materials. They say Hogan drove up, grabbed the purse from the Rubles' car and ran back to his car.
When Mr. Ruble gave chase, he was knocked down and dragged by the Cadillac and his legs were run over as the car was backed out of the driveway. Hogan then drove forward, running over the elderly man again and killing him, police say.
Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Limbian said Mrs. Hogan is among the 20 or so prosecution witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
Besides the recycling site where Ruble was killed, jurors also were taken to view the site in Mill Creek Park where Mrs. Ruble's purse was eventually recovered, and to Calvary Cemetery on the city's West Side.
At the cemetery
In his opening statement to jurors Wednesday, defense attorney James T. Hartford said another purse-snatching happened at the cemetery the day before Ruble was killed. He believes the same person committed both crimes, but insists it was not Hogan.
Hartford said he will present four witnesses at trial who will say Hogan was not the driver who ran over Ruble. Hogan told The Vindicator in July 2002 that he was framed by police.
Hartford asked Judge Evans Wednesday to drop the charges against Hogan and order him released from custody, arguing that prosecutors have taken too long to bring Hogan to trial. The judge denied the request.
bjackson@vindy.com