Chase to host Ryan Widmer murder trial panel Oct. 5

News from NKU...

Wednesday - Sept. 29, 2010
For immediate release...


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law Center for Excellence in Advocacy will host a discussion panel about the Ryan Widmer murder trial Oct. 5 from 7-9 p.m. in NKU’s Eva G. Farris Auditorium (BEP Center Room 200).

Widmer was accused of drowning his wife, Sarah, in their bathtub on Aug. 13, 2008. He has been tried twice for murder. The first trial ended in a mistrial and the second ended in a hung jury. A third trial is scheduled to begin in January 2011.

To better understand this highly controversial case, Chase College of Law has invited a distinguished group of legal, media and law enforcement experts to discuss the case's complex issues. The discussion panel is free and open to the public.

Panelists include legal experts Mike Allen, criminal defense attorney and former Hamilton County prosecutor; Professor Mark Godsey, University of Cincinnati, criminal defense attorney; Mark Krumbein, criminal defense attorney; Daniel "Woody" Breyer, assistant chief prosecutor, Clermont County, Ohio; and Professor Mark Stavsky, Chase College of Law.
Media experts include Deb Silverman, WCPO TV Channel 9 reporter; Travis Gettys, WLWT TV Channel 5 reporter; Brad Underwood, Fox 19 reporter; and Janice Morse, Cincinnati Enquirer journalist.

Law enforcement experts are Col. William Cole, chief of police, City of Bellevue, Ky.; Darrell Hawkins, forensic expert, assistant prosecutor, Clermont County, Ohio; Professor Jill Shelley, criminal justice professor at NKU; and Greg Shelley, forensic expert, Clermont County, Ohio. Professor Henry Stephens, Chase College of Law, will moderate the panel discussion.

"Our mission at the Center for Excellence in Advocacy is to ensure that every student who graduates understands the theoretical and practical aspects of the legal system," said Professor Richard Bales, director of the center. "Many of the theoretical issues can be addressed in a classroom, so at the center we focus on exposing students to the realities of the legal system by having them work with top-notch legal experts and by organizing programs such as the Ryan Widmer trial panel discussion."

Chase College of Law established the Center for Excellence in Advocacy in 2007 to teach students the practical skills necessary to be effective advocates. Since its creation, the center has hosted dozens of seminars like the Widmer panel that expose Chase students to topics and issues not covered in most law school classrooms.

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