Tempers flare during trial of men accused in girl's fatal stabbing

Court services deputies responded to the hallway and quickly calmed tempers.

The crowd applauded as Tascha Robinson, Amber’s mother, urged everyone to be peaceful and Christian.

Spaeth called all parties into the courtroom, where he warned them about their conduct during the trial.

“This is not a soccer match, it is not a football game, this is a court of law,” Spaeth said, adding further outbursts would not be tolerated.

Gray, 19, and Martin, 18, both of northern Cincinnati suburbs, are being tried together for the September fatal stabbing of Robinson at North Point Townhomes off Muhlhauser Road. Gray is charged with murder and Martin with complicity to murder.

Dr. James Swinehart, forensic pathologist for the Butler County Coroner’s Office, testified the 15-year-old suffered a stab wound to the back that punctured a lung and her heart. The doctor said the girl was stabbed twice, but one of the wounds was superficial.

West Chester Twp. police Officer Adam Roth testified he was called to the complex about 7:10 p.m. Sept. 10 on a report of a fight. The altercation was verbal stemming from how a girl was being treated and people had already dispersed, according to Roth. An hour later when he was called back, Roth said he saw Amber laying in the street bleeding and a group of about 50 people fighting.

Chris Baker testified he drove to the apartment complex to pick up Gray, Martin and two other friends. When he arrived a crowd approached his car. Eventually, Gray, Martin, Derek Gillian and Josh Piper walked toward the angry group.

“I heard yelling and screaming,” Baker said, noting he never left the vehicle. Martin came back to the car, retrieved something from a backpack abd then walked toward Gray, Baker said.

Minutes later, Gray returned to the car and said “hurry up we have to leave,” according to Baker. “He (Gray) said he had stabbed a girl.”

When Baker asked Gray why, “He said she was talking stuff,” Baker testified.

After dropping Gray off at his Mount Healthy home, Baker said he went to police.

The trial continues at 8:30 a.m. today.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.