Last Friday, Clark said he didn’t know if they would represent Widmer. Jill Widmer, who has funded her son’s defense, could not be reached for comment.
Widmer, 29, is charged with the August 2008 drowning death of his bride Sarah Widmer. His first trial in May 2009 ended with a guilty verdict. When juror misconduct was unveiled, Bronson order a new trial. Jurors in the second trial could not decide on a verdict and a mistrial was announced.
An acquittal motion was denied earlier this month for Widmer.
His parents, Jill and Gary Widmer, who have been divorced for many years, held a press conference after Bronson the denied motion and said while they were pleased with their son’s representation, they aren’t sure they can continue to pay Clark, Arenstein and Gutierrez.
“There are a lot of things we have to discuss and financial things we need to take into consideration,” Jill Widmer said. “I’ll just sell some things that I have and it’s the same with Gary. We’re in this together. It’s our son and we know he’s innocent and we’ll do whatever it takes for him to be set free.”
The two trials have cost taxpayers in Warren County $51,924. The first cost $22,214 and the second $29,710, according to the prosecutor’s office. These costs do not include payroll for staffers who have worked on the case for two years.
Matt Nolan, a spokesman for the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, said there haven’t been any motions for change of venue and he did not know who would defense Widmer.
“We know who is prosecuting the case, but we don’t know who is defending the case necessarily yet,” he said. “We have no way of knowing that, so it could come up tomorrow.”
Widmer was represented in his first trial by Lebanon attorney Charlie Rittgers.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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