Ohio death row inmate claims innocence in slayings

COLUMBUS (AP) — An inmate scheduled to die next month for killing two men in 1989 is asking the Ohio Parole Board for mercy, saying new evidence exonerates him of the crime.

A new forensic analysis casts doubt on the prosecution’s argument that one of the victims was killed in a car by Shawn Hawkins in Mount Healthy, according to a motion for a new trial filed by Hawkins’ attorneys.

The motion also argues that three witnesses now provide alibis for Hawkins at the time of the slayings of 18-year-old Terrance Richard and 19-year-old Diamond Marteen, and that a partial fingerprint of Hawkins found in the car was handled improperly and is flawed evidence.

The motion also questions inconsistent testimony from the sole eyewitness to the slayings.