TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – The legal battle for the man convicted of killing Sierah Joughin isn’t over just yet. James Worley wants a new hearing on his case.
He’s sitting on Ohio’s death row but wants the court in Fulton County to grant him more time in front of a judge. At a minimum, Worley’s lawyers want an evidentiary hearing, but ideally, they’re asking for a whole new trial.
In the multiple-day search for Joughin in 2016, investigators combed through locations all over Fulton County, collecting all kinds of evidence, which included DNA. It all eventually led to a conviction of Worley and a death sentence.
Worley and his lawyers have appealed even to the Ohio and US Supreme Courts and they’ve all been denied.
One court proceeding in Fulton County is continuing. That is Worley’s request for an evidentiary hearing and eventually a new trial. In a September court filing, Worley’s new attorneys argue the trial lawyers did not give him adequate counsel.
Especially on DNA, his lawyers now say: “Worley’s trial counsel was deficient for failing to fully consult with a DNA expert and trial counsel’s deficient consultation greatly impacts Worley’s case.”
The filing goes on to say: “Considering Worley has always maintained his innocence in this case, a reasonable attorney faced with this information would have sought more advanced DNA testing or presented their own expert to discuss the information and the possibility of an alternate suspect. Defense counsel did not of these.”
Prosecutors have countered the claims in previous filings, saying right out of the gate: “The evidence of Worley’s guilt was overwhelming.”
The I-TEAM spoke with the visiting judge Wednesday, who is handling the case. Judge Janet Burnside said she does not have a time frame for a ruling and that nothing is imminent.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-10-22 19:36:00
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