New-evidence claim probed in murder

LISBON -- Authorities are investigating a claim of new evidence in the murder case of Emily Foreman, 21, of East Liverpool.
Prosecutors have a copy of an audio tape made by defense Atty. George Kafantaris of Warren as the trial was ending, said John Gamble, an assistant Columbiana County prosecutor.
Kafantaris represents Andrew G. Irwin, 25, of East Liverpool. Irwin was convicted of murder and was sentenced Saturday to 15 years to life in prison. Authorities claimed Irwin, a heroin user, stabbed Foreman in Liverpool Township last year to get drugs.
The audio tape made by Kafantaris is said to be an interview with another man, who had contacted Irwin's brother with information about the murder.
Common Pleas Judge C. Ashley Pike sentenced Kafantaris to 10 days in jail for contempt of court for producing the tape as the jury returned with its verdict.
The judge earlier sentenced the attorney to another 10 days in jail for contempt for allegedly trying to get a witness to comment about evidence the judge had excluded.
Gamble said the two contempt sentences were the longest he had heard of in 17 years in the prosecutor's office.