The Associated Press

CANTON, Ohio - As a man went on trial accused of scheming to have his pregnant former girlfriend shot, his lawyer argued that authorities still haven't identified the shooter.

"The state can't find that person," defense attorney Jeff Haupt told jurors Tuesday at the trial before Stark County Common Pleas Judge Sara Lioi.

Paul Nino Tarver II, 29, of Canton, arranged to have Keisha Lewis shot so he could avoid becoming a father and be with another woman, the prosecution said.

Mr. Tarver is charged with complicity to aggravated murder and complicity to felonious assault.

Ms. Lewis, 23, survived but lost her 3-month-old fetus two days after the March 7 shooting.

Chryssa Hartnett, assistant Stark County prosecutor, said although police did not find the gun they did locate a trail of witnesses to trace the weapon back to Mr. Tarver.

"He almost got away with it, but the truth caught up," Ms. Hartnett said.