Lawyers argue for conviction to be vacated
Nathaniel Jackson was found guilty of a 2001 murder.
By MICHELE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A man convicted of killing his then girlfriend's ex-husband and sentenced to death did not receive a fair trial, his lawyers argued before the Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Attorneys Dennis Day Lager of Canton and John P. Laczko of Youngstown represented Nathaniel E. Jackson. The attorneys charge Jackson's conviction should be overturned or his death sentence reduced based on several factors including incompetent trial defense attorneys and prosecutorial misconduct.
Both charges were vehemently denied by Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins during oral arguments before the high court.
"When you have nothing, you attack everyone," Watkins said of the defense counsel's arguments. "I think that's what's been done here today. There is nothing in this case. This was a fair trial. The defendant got his just desserts."
Conviction
Jackson was convicted of the 2001 murder of Robert Fingerhut. According to Supreme Court documents, Jackson and Fingerhut's ex-wife, Donna Roberts, began an affair and, during Jackson's incarceration in the Lorain Correctional Institution, developed a plan to kill Fingerhut.
According to prosecutors, Jackson shot and killed Fingerhut in the Howland Township home Fingerhut shared with Roberts.
Jackson reportedly then stole Fingerhut's car.
"Seldom does a prosecutor go into court with as much evidence as the state had in this case," Watkins said.
He said there were about 700 exhibits in this case including 19 taped conversations between the two defendants.
According to Supreme Court documents, there were also 284 letters written between Jackson and Roberts, including many detailing how the murder would occur. These were found during the investigation.
The Supreme Court took the matter under advisement and didn't indicate when it would make a ruling.