Judge allows confession in Ohio school shooting trial

URBANA, Ohio (AP) — A judge has ruled the confession of a teen accused of shooting two students at an Ohio high school can be used by prosecutors.

The Columbus Dispatch <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180221/judge-denies-request-to-throw-out-accused-school-shooters-confession”>reports</a> a Champaign County judge ruled Wednesday that 18-year-old Ely Serna understood his rights and spoke freely to police after the January 2017 shooting at central Ohio’s West Liberty-Salem High School.

One teen survived critical injuries. Another received minor injuries.

Serna has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges including attempted murder. His attorneys argued his confession shouldn’t be allowed because Serna didn’t understand his rights when he spoke to police.

The ruling says juveniles have no statutory right to counsel before a juvenile complaint is filed. Serna was charged in Juvenile Court before the case was transferred to adult court.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”http://www.dispatch.com”>http://www.dispatch.com</a>

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