Prosecutor to seek execution date for killer

Prosecutor to seek execution date for killer

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The Trumbull County prosecutor’s office will ask the Ohio Supreme Court to set an execution date for Roderick Davie of Warren now that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of a federal district court’s decision in his case.

Davie, 38, had asked the top court to consider whether he had been illegally questioned by police after killing John Coleman and Tracey Jeffereys and injuring William Everett on June 27, 1991, at Veterinary Companies of America on Main Avenue Southwest.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati rejected that argument last year, and the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to take up the matter.

Davie argued his conviction was flawed because he had been illegally questioned by police, as well as because of misconduct by prosecutors and deficient jury instructions.

Davie’s defense lawyers said Davie’s confession was coerced because police questioned him four times over about six hours.

Two of three federal appellate judges ruled that the confession was admissible, however, because Davie had initiated the fourth interview, the one in which he admitted committing the crimes.

LuWayne Annos, an appellate lawyer for the prosecutor’s office, said a request for an execution date will likely be prepared next week.