Ohio judge OKs $11K for bathtub drowning defense

LEBANON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio judge has approved $11,000 for two expert defense witnesses in the third trial of a man accused of drowning his wife in their bathtub.

Ryan Widmer has said his funds have been depleted by the two earlier trials. One conviction was overturned and the other trial ended in a hung jury.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Warren County judge on Monday agreed to public funds for the witnesses in the new trial beginning Jan. 18.

One is a forensic psychologist who studies brain problems that can contribute to death. The other is an expert in biomedical engineering who says Widmer could not have drowned his wife Sarah in 2008 without more injuries being left.

Defense attorneys had asked for nearly $50,000 for expert witnesses.