Widmer attorneys granted extension to appeal murder conviction

LEBANON, Ohio - Attorneys working on the appeal of Ryan Widmer's murder conviction have been given more time to go through thousands of documents in order to file their paperwork. That appeal was due Aug. 29, but because of the huge amount of trial material, an extension was granted.

In paperwork filed with the court asking for the extension, attorneys wrote, "The record was completed July 14, 2011 and contains hundreds of exhibits and three trial transcripts, each totaling some 3,000 pages. It is for this reason- the extraordinarily voluminous record- that the State agrees with Widmer's request for an extension."

The filing also requested  that Widmer give the State the same courtesy if prosecutors need an extension.

Included in the filing will be information involving lead investigator Jeff Braley, who has since resigned his position over accusations that he lied on his job application. The judge did not allow the accusations against Braley to be brought up in front of a jury.

Widmer's attorneys now have until November 28, 2011 to file his appeal. He is currently serving 15 years to life in prison.

Widmer was convicted of drowning his wife, Sarah, in February during his third murder trial. The first trial ended with a conviction but that was overturned because of alleged juror misconduct. The second trial ended in a hung jury.