Second murder trial of Lebanon man begins

He says he acted in self-defense in shooting of father.

The second trial LEBANON — of a Lebanon man charged with murdering his father continued on Tuesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

Freddie Green, 43, of Lebanon testified in the first trial to shooting his father, Sidney Green, 64, on Dec. 2.

But the son continues to maintain he acted in self-defense, contrary to the murder and felonious assault charges he faces in the retrial.

On Tuesday, Assistant County Prosecutor Steven Knippen questioned Detective Gregory Spanel who questioned Green, and played a video of the interrogation, while emphasizing changes in Green’s statements.

Green’s lawyer, Jeffrey Richards, then questioned the investigator, emphasizing how his statements matched evidence in the case and presented alternative reasons why his answers changed.

County Prosecutor David Fornshell said the prosecution would be the same as in the July trial except for “tweaks” based on conversations with the first set of jurors.

Taking the stand on July 25, Green admitted he drove to Dayton for heroin during four hours he waited before calling 911.

But Green testified that he acted in self-defense after taking away his father’s 9mm handgun in a bedroom of a rented duplex they shared in Lebanon. There were no other witnesses.

The first trial ended in a mistrial on July 27, when the jury was unable to reach a verdict after 15 hours of deliberation.

Sidney Green died from a single gunshot wound in the back of the head, fired from two to three feet away, according to evidence presented during the first trial.

He was one of six victims of deadly domestic violence in the last half of 2016 in Warren County. Two cases ended as homicide-suicides involving both spouses.

The other survivor, Mercedes Robb, 35, of Turtlecreek Twp., is serving 25 years to life in prison for murdering her ex-husband in November 2016 as their children slept.

Green’s second trial is again scheduled for four days.