Toledo murder case that ended in mistrial rescheduled

6/20/2007

A murder trial that ended last week in a mistrial was rescheduled yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to give authorities time to conduct DNA analysis.

Charles McDonald, charged with murder in the Sept. 25 shooting death of Ericka Graham, will go to trial Aug. 13. The delay means a hair sample found in Ms. Graham s bed can be tested for DNA, something that apparently was overlooked before the trial began July 11.

Police accused McDonald, 34, of 1311 Fernwood Ave. of shooting Ms. Graham, 27, in the head. She was found by her children in her apartment in the Brand Whitlock Homes.

The trial was in its third day when a report surfaced from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation s regional crime lab in Bowling Green that said a hair that had been found had not been tested. Assistant County Prosecutor Ian English said that the hair from the scene and McDonald s hair sample will be tested, which could take as long as eight weeks.

Judge Frederick McDonald, who granted the mistrial, set the new trial date exactly eight weeks out.