Seman attorneys challenge death penalty

YOUNGSTOWN — Attorneys today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court argued three motions dealing with the death penalty in the Robert Seman case.

Defense attorneys have challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty in Ohio as well as motions by prosecutors to dismiss jurors against the death penalty during jury selection and whether the indictments asking for the death penalty were worded properly.

Judge Maureen Sweeney said she will issue her rulings shortly.

Seman, 46, is accused of starting a fire March 31, 2015, killing Corinne Gump, 10 and her grandparents, William and Judith Schmidt at their Powers Way home. Seman was to go on trial the day of the fire for raping Gump.

He faces 10 counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications.