Ohio's top court considers new trial for Mahoning Valley man

COLUMBUS — The state’s high court must decide whether to allow prosecutors another attempt to convict an Austintown man in the 2002 slaying of a Youngstown State University student.

Christopher Anderson has asked that the case be dismissed, after one earlier conviction was overturned and a handful of other trials ended in a mistrial or with hung juries.

It’s been 5,031 days since Anderson was arrested and charged, his attorney, John Juhasz, told the Ohio Supreme Court during oral arguments today.

“I haven’t found a case, quite frankly your honor, where a defendant was pending trial this long,” he said.

Prosecutors have countered that there’s strong evidence linking Anderson to the crime, and they can continue to seek a conviction when juries deadlock during earlier proceedings.

Amber Zurcher, 22, was found dead on the floor of her Austintown apartment in June 2002. She was lying naked near the door, likely strangled with a cord or wire, according to documents.

Anderson was among people who had partied at Zurcher’s apartment hours before and was later arrested in connection with her slaying.

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