Lawyer wants judge to muzzle cops in Seman case

YOUNGSTOWN — The attorney for a Robert Seman, 46, who had a witness die the day Seman’s child-rape trial was to begin asked a judge to bar attorneys and any law enforcement personnel from publicly commenting on the two pending criminal cases against him.

Defense lawyer Tom Zena told Judge Maureen Sweeney in a motion filed Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that statements by prosecutors are making it a “virtually impossibility” his client of West Calla Road in Green will be able to receive a fair trial on counts of rape and bribery.

Seman was to go on trial March 30 on charges of rape against Corinne Gump, 10. Corinne and her grandparents, William and Judith Schmidt, however, died in a fire at the Schmidts’ Powers Way home hours before jury selection in the case was set to begin. Seman was on house arrest at the time.

There is still no official cause of the fire.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com