LIMA — A final pre-trial hearing Tuesday for accused killer Jayleontre Harris paved the way for his jury trial on charges of murder to begin Tuesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.
Harris is charged with aggravated murder with a gun, aggravated robbery with a gun and burglary with a gun. Police say Harris killed 46-year-old Eric Staup on May 19, 2016, at Staup’s home at 637 N. Metcalf St., Lima, after going to the home to rob Staup.
During Tuesday morning’s hearing in Allen County Common Pleas Court, defense attorney Steve Chamberlain, the third public defender to represent Harris throughout his legal journey, discussed a written motion he had filed with the court to dismiss some evidence in the case, specifically the process through which the defendant was selected from a photo lineup by the victim’s son. Judge Jeffrey Reed said he would rule on that motion within the next day or two.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth Sturgill said a video of the lineup would show the selection process “was in no way unduly suggestive” and asked Reed to dismiss the motion.
Harris originally had Bill Kluge as his attorney but was not happy with the working relationship they had. The court then assigned Greg Donohue as his attorney for a short time before Chamberlain took over the case.
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