Tuesday, December 21, 1999
Judge refuses to bar statement
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Nearly 30 years after he fled Cincinnati, prosecutors say, Michael Copening confessed to shooting a man and leaving him for dead in the back seat of a car. His story, however, is a little different than the one told by prosecutors Monday in court.
While prosecutors describe the fatal shooting as murder, Mr. Copening's statement to police claims he fired the shots in self-defense.
In his statement, Mr. Copening said he shot Stanford Favors because he feared Mr. Favors was going to kill him.
“He pulled a silver .38-caliber and told me he would blow my ... head off,” Mr. Copening said in his signed statement. “I pulled a .22-caliber from my pants and shot him four times.”
Prosecutors say the shooting took place in a car downtown on Feb. 3, 1970.
They say Mr. Copening, then 24, killed the 22-year-old Mr. Favors and ran from the car. He spent the past 29 years as a fugitive, living most recently in Jackson, Miss. He was arrested in November in Jackson. Authorities will not say how they tracked him down.
At a hearing Monday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, Judge Patrick Dinkelacker ruled that prosecutors could use Mr. Copening's statement against him at his trial in January.
Mr. Copening's attorney, Norman Aubin, had asked the judge to throw out the statement, arguing that his client may not have been properly notified of his rights before he spoke to police.
Although Mr. Copening, 53, apparently stayed out of serious trouble while on the run, prosecutors say he is no less guilty today than he was in 1970.
They are seeking a conviction on a murder charge, which carries a possible penalty of 20 years to life in prison.
“He killed a person in cold blood,” Prosecutor Mike Allen said Monday. “I don't care if he went in the seminary for 30 years, he still needs to answer for what he did.”
Mr. Copening is being held in jail without bond. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 11.
Mayor: Policies to be reviewed
Vouchers unconstitutional, judge rules
Blues singer tracked down on 30-year-old murder charge
Judge refuses to bar statement
No snow, but cold enough
Traffic not hustling with Pete Rose Way closed
Airport 25-year plan set
Avondale vows to reclaim streets
Hamilton Co. sewer bills may rise 9.5%
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Teachers: Smaller class No. 1 priority
'Fantasia 2000' soundtrack fantastic achievement
Add a local touch to collection with these classical music CDs
GET TO IT
Richey's solos save jinxed WNKU benefit
Book signings bring out crazies
3 schools to be renovated
Addicted ex-dentist sentenced
Arson hits string instrument shop
Campbell GOP elects Barb Haas as chairwoman
Charity will be year-round
Dearborn committee establishes unity theme
Deerfield sues Mason over site for water tower
Indian lifestyle studied
IRS expansion planned at new building in Covington
Lebanon decides not to seize land
Living organ donations soar
Man gets 15 years in Covington bank heist
Mason district loses treasurer
Monroe tries to fill in blanks
Ohio cashes 1st tobacco settlement check
Ohio school chief asks for opinions
Sales tax proposed with jail
TRISTATE DIGEST
