Ohio suicide survivor dies during trial

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio man who shot himself three times in a suicide attempt last year has died — right in the midst of his trial on criminal charges stemming from the standoff with police who tried to help him.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported today that Robert Settle of Harrison made it through jury selection Monday, but the 52-year-old was taken to the hospital and died Tuesday.

His Cincinnati attorney, Rhett Baker, said that all indications are that his client died of natural causes, adding that Settle had been in failing health for some time after surviving cancer a number of years ago.

An official cause of death was not yet known, and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office did not immediately return a call for comment today.

Settle had pleaded not guilty to three charges each of attempted murder and felonious assault for firing at police officers who came to his aid in September 2011 in an incident that lasted hours, resulted in a major interstate being closed and required the response of a SWAT team.