TRUMBULL COUNTY Freedom denied to convicted killer

During his trial, Phil Mike claimed his victim was a clone.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A former Liberty Township man -- who said he killed his clone -- will not be getting out of prison early.
Judge John Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Thursday denied Phil Mike's request.
Mike, convicted in July 2001 of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery, had filed a motion last month asking Judge Stuard for early release. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Only inmates who are serving prison sentences of 10 years or under are eligible for judicial release, court officials said.
Mike, who is serving his sentence at the Trumbull Correctional Institution, was not in court for the hearing.
'Return to freedom'
His motion states that he believes he is eligible for early release and is requesting his "return to freedom."
During his trial, Mike said he wasn't guilty of committing a crime because he killed his clone. Mike has a history of mental illness, but an expert for the prosecution said Mike knew at the time that it was wrong to kill.
The 36-year-old man was accused of beating and hacking to death Joe Furda, 40, of Youngstown, on Feb. 23, 2000, in a wooded area of Liberty Township. Police found a loaded .32-caliber handgun in Mike's car.
Clone discussion
Defense attorneys said during the trial that Mike met Furda at a local bar and went for a drive in Mike's car. During the ride, the men were discussing clones, and Mike became convinced that Furda was his clone.
The defense attorney noted that Mike believed clones had replaced his family and that Mike expected he would be exonerated from the killing when police discovered he killed a clone.
sinkovich@vindy.com