Ohio inmate denied request for new trial in 1991 killing

LORAIN, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio inmate who argues he was wrongly convicted in a 1991 slaying in Northeast Ohio and wants a new trial has been denied permission to appeal a lower court ruling on the matter.

A federal appeals court refused Alfred Cleveland permission to appeal the ruling that denied him a new trial. The ruling was handed down last week in the August 1991 killing of 22-year-old Lorain prostitute Marcia Blakely. The Lorain man was convicted of murder in 1996.

Defense lawyer J. Philip Calabrese said the court’s decision is “wrong” and “troubling,” considering the same court earlier concluded there’s evidence supporting his claim of innocence.

“No juror properly instructed by a judge following the law would vote to convict beyond a reasonable doubt,” Calabrese said. “When all that is at issue is whether to hear an appeal, it’s very troubling the Sixth Circuit would not.”

Calabrese said he is still deciding on how to proceed.