A Franklin County choose threw out a person’s homicide conviction in a stabbing case involving cryptocurrency, astral projection and a self-defense declare.
Protection lawyer Sam Shamansky argued in a December 2023 trial that Robin Sebastian, 34, stabbed 33-year-old Pradeep Anand on Dec. 24, 2021, in a battle for his life, however the jury returned a blended verdict Shamansky known as “wacky.”
A jury discovered Sebastian responsible of a single depend of homicide however not responsible of 5 different counts: two counts of aggravated homicide, one other homicide depend, aggravated housebreaking and possession of felony instruments.
On the protection’s movement, Franklin County Frequent Pleas Decide Kimberly Cocroft put aside the lone responsible verdict on Thursday and acquitted Sebastian. He might be launched after spending greater than two years in jail.
It is uncommon for a choose to overturn a jury’s verdict, one thing Shamansky mentioned he has by no means seen in his practically 40 years as a felony protection lawyer.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s workplace declined to remark to The Dispatch on the case Thursday.
“The jury clearly misplaced its manner,” Shamansky mentioned. “Even going as far as to acquit the man of possessing the felony device that was supposedly used to stab the decedent. … It takes actual judicial braveness to do the correct factor.”
In a particular report in January, The Dispatch reported how prevalent self-defense claims have gotten in Franklin County homicide trials and the way, greater than half the time final yr, such defendants received acquittal.
This reversal makes the numbers much more lopsided than beforehand reported. Now, of the 14 defendants who argued at trial they killed to guard themselves or one other, 9 have been acquitted, and simply 4 have been discovered responsible. In a single trial, the jury couldn’t attain a verdict.
A Christmas Eve stabbing
The 2 males have been associates earlier than Sebastian stabbed Anand seven occasions outdoors Anand’s condo constructing on Hedgerow Street on Columbus’ Northwest Facet, county prosecutors mentioned through the trial.
Just a few hours earlier than he died, Anand transferred greater than $50,000 price of cryptocurrency from one account to a brand new account, and Sebastian had these logins, in keeping with proof offered at trial.
Shamansky mentioned Anand was mentally unwell, as evidenced by his obsession with astral projection, and this was a part of Anand’s scheme. Shamansky alleged that Anand drugged Sebastian, and Sebastian was combating for his life.
Columbus police failed to check the bottle Sebastian mentioned he drank from, Shamansky identified. This was acknowledged as an error in courtroom information filed by the prosecution.
In courtroom filings arguing the jury verdict ought to stand, county prosecuting attorneys wrote they supplied adequate proof. The prosecution wrote that Sebastian’s search historical past exhibits he looked for dumpster firms and several other varieties of large open areas in an “try to determine the most effective place to discard a physique.”
jlaird@dispatch.com
@LairdWrites