Final witness in Michael Burns murder trial testifies about drug results

Final witness in Michael Burns murder trial testifies about drug results

WARREN

Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk, Trumbull County coroner, testified Wednesday as the final witness in the murder trial of Michael Burns, 34.

The trial resumes Friday in the courtroom of Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court with closing arguments and jury deliberations.

Dr. Germaniuk gave his typical run-down of wounds found on the body of the deceased — in this case Terry Allen, 37, of Mineral Ridge, who died when homeowner Roy Hahn fired a bullet through Hahn’s front door during a burglary.

But Burns’ defense attorney, Ronald D. Yarwood, asked Dr. Germaniuk if he would also look at a report relating to a urine test entered into evidence in the trial showing that Hahn had used cocaine at some point prior to the shooting.

Yarwood asked Dr. Germaniuk to use the results of the test to indicate how long before it was given that Hahn had used cocaine or other drugs.

“Just looking at the urine, I would probably [decline]. All I can say is he had consumed cocaine,” Dr. Germaniuk said.

Under questioning, Dr. Germaniuk testified that the amount of cocaine in Hahn’s urine was at least six times the amount that would be considered illegal to drive.

To know how recently the cocaine was consumed, a blood test would be needed, Dr. Germaniuk said. Further testing also would be needed to know what other drugs he had consumed.

When Dr. Germaniuk said he would “like to see” other tests done if he were to answer Yarwood’s questions, Yarwood said “So would I.”

When Hahn testified Tuesday, he said he had consumed cocaine a couple of days before the July 12 attempted break-in. A Niles police detective testified that Hahn didn’t appear to be impaired the night Allen was killed.

Burns, of Mineral Ridge, admitted to police that he, Allen and three others planned and attempted to carry out a burglary at Hahn’s house that night but said the house appeared to be abandoned.

Burns and the three others are charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter in Allen’s death and attempted aggravated burglary for attempting to break into the house.

Dennnis Watkins, Trumbull County prosecutor, cleared Hahn in Allen’s death, saying he was justified in shooting through the front door of his home after burglars first tried to break into the side door of his house and then the front door at 12:30 a.m.

The closing arguments were delayed until Friday because of other obligations of the attorneys in the case.

If convicted of murder, Burns could get 15 years to life in prison.