Appeals Court Dismisses Charges for Ohio Man Convicted of Murder

An Ohio man, Justus Robertson, who had spent over two years in prison after a murder conviction, had six of his seven charges thrown out by an appeals court this week, largely due to issues with his trial. The jury had witnessed him in shackles, which the court ruled infringed upon his constitutional rights.

Robertson, now 22, was originally sentenced to 29 years for the murder of Christopher Roberts, aged 21, in a Columbus apartment complex back in July 2022. The court’s decision on Tuesday, more than two years post-sentencing, stemmed from the Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals finding that there was no valid reason for shackling him during the trial.

During the trial, visible shackles were placed on Robertson against the guidelines that protect defendants under the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The court indicated that he did not pose a threat to anyone and that this decision may have influenced the jury’s view of him, potentially compromising his right to a fair trial.

As a consequence, the court annulled his convictions for aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, unlawful discharge into a dwelling, and three counts of felony assault.

Robertson is set to face retrial regarding the six dismissed charges, although his future in prison seems likely, as the serious murder conviction remains intact.

Along with him, an accomplice named Xavier Colvin was also found guilty of the murder. During the incident, which authorities labeled an “ambush,” Robertson reportedly shot Roberts, who was later discovered bleeding on the stairs of a building. The police comments highlighted a tragic scene where Roberts was met with gunfire as he attempted to escape.

Colvin had pleaded guilty earlier in March 2023, receiving a maximum sentence of 21 and a half years in prison. Furthermore, Robertson’s mother also faced legal troubles, admitting to tampering with evidence, which resulted in her receiving a year of community control.