Key evidence approved for Ohio tub drowning retrial

LEBANON, Ohio (AP) — Jurors at an Ohio man’s murder retrial will hear the 911 call he made after his wife drowned in their bathtub.

A judge in southwest Ohio’s Warren County also decided Wednesday to allow the jury to see the tub where Ryan Widmer is accused of killing his wife, Sarah Widmer, in August 2008.

The defense had asked the judge to exclude both the 911 recording and the tub from Widmer’s second trial. His first ended in a murder conviction, but it was thrown out because of juror misconduct.

Prosecutors have suggested the defense attorneys’ complaints about evidence have been geared toward prejudicing potential jurors.

Judge Neal Bronson agreed to let the defense raise questions during the retrial about whether the emergency call recording is complete.