Ohio Supreme Court sends Anderson case back to appellate court

Ohio Supreme Court sends Anderson case back to appellate court

COLUMBUS

In a 7-0 decision this morning, the Ohio Supreme Court has sent the Christopher Anderson murder case back to the 7th District Court of Appeals to consider the merits of Anderson’s appeal.

Anderson, of Austintown, is protesting an indictment that could lead to his sixth trial.

Anderson is charged in the June 3, 2002, strangulation death of 22-year-old Amber Zurcher in her Austintown apartment.

Two of Anderson’ trials ended in a hung jury, and two others ended in a mistrial while a trial was underway.

Anderson, 45, of South Main Street, was convicted in his second trial and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, but the 7th District Court of Appeals overturned that conviction, citing “cumulative error” in the trial.

In today’s decision, the top court ruled the 7th District Court has the authority to review Judge James C. Evans’ February 2011 refusal to dismiss the indictment on double jeopardy grounds.