Condon's request for new trial denied

        Thomas Condon's hopes for a new trial were dashed Wednesday after a Hamilton County judge denied his request to set aside his conviction.

        Common Pleas Judge Norbert Nadel said Mr. Condon's initial trial on charges that he took unauthorized pictures of autopsied corpses was fair. The judge also said the jury's decision to convict Mr. Condon was valid.

        Mr. Condon's co-defendant, Dr. Jonathan Tobias, 32, may still have a chance at a new trial.

A SPECIAL MASS at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral downtown Wednesday celebrated Catholic Schools Week with more than 1,000 representatives of Cincinnati schools. Ashley Howard (center, with glasses) was among students from St. Rita School for the Deaf who participated in the Mass by signing. The week's events also included open houses for parents, out-of-uniform days, special projects and Masses. (Dick Swain photo) | ZOOM |

        The judge declined to rule Wednesday on a similar request from Dr. Tobias, saying he wanted to review the evidence.

        Judge Nadel denied defense requests to have the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office disqualified from the case, and have Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen held in contempt of court.

        The defense alleged the prosecutor violated the judge's order by releasing to the media statements Mr. Condon made to police.
       

Ugandans to attend Mass for priest

        Eleven Ugandan priests, deacons and seminarians will travel to Old St. Mary's Church in Over-the-Rhine on Friday to attend a memorial Mass for the Rev. Charles Mutyaba, associate pastor at the church.

        Four will sing African hymns in their native tongue.

        Father Mutyaba, of Kampala, Uganda, was studying social work at the University of Cincinnati. He planned to return to Uganda to run the Catholic Social Services office after receiving his master's degree. The 45-year-old priest died Saturday afternoon of pneumonia.

        Father Mutyaba usually conducted the 12:10 p.m. Mass at Old St. Mary's. Prayers will be said for Father Mutyaba during a ceremony at Friday's 12:10 p.m. Mass, with the release of white doves outside the church at 12:45 p.m.

        A 24-hour vigil with Father Mutyaba's body will begin at the church at 7 p.m. today. The memorial Mass is 7 p.m. Friday. His remains will be returned to his family in Uganda.
       

Real estate tax deadline tonight

        The deadline for payment of the first-half 2001 real estate taxes in Hamilton County is midnight today. Payment after the deadline will result in a penalty.

        To accommodate last-minute payments, the county Treasurer's Office will have extended hours today, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Payments also can be made via credit card on the treasurer's Web site — http://www. hamilton-co.org/treasurer/

        A street-level deposit box is in the lobby of the county's Administration Building, 138 E. Court St., downtown.
       

CAN leaders will present an update

        The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce will hold a government forum on Wednesday, featuring leaders of Cincinnati Community Action Now.

        CAN Co-chairmen Ross Love and Tom Cody will update business leaders on how the task force will translate months of planning into action to help achieve equity, opportunity and inclusion. Their presentation will include a preview of a public service announcement program seeking to create mutual respect and encourage involvement.

        The forum will be held in the main ballroom of the Hyatt Regency downtown. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon program from noon to 1:30 p.m. The luncheon is $25.

        For more information: 579-3111.
       

Officer acquitted in death back on patrol

        Cincinnati Police Officer Patrick Caton, acquitted last fall in the death of a suspect, is back working patrol. The five-year veteran is working second shift in District 1. He had been assigned to the impound lot for about a year.

        Officer Caton, 35, was found not guilty in November of assault in the November 2000 death of Roger Owensby Jr.

        Mr. Owensby, 29, of College Hill, died of mechanical asphyxiation that the coroner said could have been caused by a choke hold or the weight of officers piling on his back. Officer Caton said he hit Mr. Owensby five times that night because he was resisting arrest.

        Officers had apprehended Mr. Owensby as part of a drug investigation.

        The department's internal investigation of the incident is not complete.
       

Man convicted in retrial of slaying

        For the second time, a Hamilton County jury has found Joseph Griffin guilty of killing his wife, Pamela.

        After an eight-day trial, jurors in the case before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker returned their verdict Wednesday.

        The 44-year-old Whitewater Township man was convicted of his wife's murder in 1998, but in 2001, Ohio's 1st District Court of Appeals overturned it, saying Judge John O'Connor should not have allowed prosecutors to present evidence about Mr. Griffin's behavior before his wife's death.

        Mr. Griffin contended that his wife was unstable and suicidal.

        Mr. Griffin called 911 after the Sept. 2, 1998, shooting and told police his wife had put a gun to her head, smiled and pulled the trigger.

        Mr. Griffin was three years into a life sentence when he learned of the appeals court decision to grant him a new trial.

        Following Wednesday's verdict, Judge Dinkelacker returned Mr. Griffin to prison, sentencing him to 23 years to life.
       

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