Rather Than Facing Trial, Defendant Commits Suicide At Courthouse
He would have faced the death penalty if convicted.
A disturbing report has come our way from Ohio, where earlier this week, a defendant in a triple murder case fled from police after a pre-trial status conference, jumped over a fourth-floor banister, and fell to his death, landing in the courthouse rotunda below.
Robert Seman Jr., 48, was accused of raping a 10-year-old girl and later setting fire to her home on the day of her rape trial, killing her and her grandparents. Prosecutors alleged that he set fire to the home because the girl was set to testify against him.
Seman was being led by police, without restraints, from the Mahoning County Courthouse for his return to the county jail when he evaded his escorts and leapt to his demise. Courthouse surveillance footage captured the moment when Seman decided to take his own life. WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS GRAPHIC.
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WKBN spoke to a local prosecutor following Seman’s death:
Robert Seman, Jr.
Although Seman insisted from the beginning he was innocent — even claiming he was under house arrest at the time of the fire — prosecutors wonder if this final act wasn’t some sort of confession.
“I think it’s very telling,” [Assistant Prosecutor Dawn] Cantalamessa said. “He knew the evidence against him. Every witness we talked to in preparation for the case, they didn’t know why he wasn’t pleading guilty or asking for some sort of plea, so this is very telling.”
If Seman had been convicted, he would have faced the death penalty.
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TRIPLE MURDER SUSPECT LEAPS TO DEATH IN OHIO COURTHOUSE [WLS-TV]
Youngstown triple murder defendant jumps off court balcony, dies [WKBN]
Ohio Man Jumps to His Death in Courthouse Before Trial for Raping Girl, 10, and Killing Her and Grandparents [People]
Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. She’d love to hear from you, so feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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