Cincinnati defense lawyer seeks new trial in deputy killing case
Attorney claims jurors violated Ohio law by discussing a defendant's private therapy notes during their verdict deliberations.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Defense counsel Clyde Bennett submitted a motion on Monday to vacate the guilty verdict of Rodney Hinton Jr. The filing argues that the jury engaged in misconduct by considering Hinton's private communications with his psychologist. Bennett asserts that Ohio law bars such statements from entering the deliberation room.
The motion targets the jury's decision-making process in the trial that ended with Hinton's conviction. The court-appointed psychologist testified that Hinton admitted to aiming his vehicle at the victim. Bennett contends this specific admission was shared by jurors despite its protected status under state rules.
A jury in Hamilton County found Hinton guilty of murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault last year. The charges stem from an incident in May 2025 where Hinton drove his car into former sheriff's deputy Larry Henderson. Prosecutors argued the impact was intentional, leading to Henderson's death.
The defense presented a different narrative during the proceedings. They argued that Hinton experienced a psychotic break after watching body-camera footage of police killing his son the previous day. This defense aimed to establish a lack of intent at the moment of the collision.
The new motion places the focus on procedural rules rather than the physical evidence of the crash. Bennett's statement details how the jurors allegedly weighed the therapy notes against the other testimony. The court must now review the filing to determine if the error warrants a second trial.
Hinton remains the central figure in this ongoing legal dispute. The outcome of the motion will decide whether the case returns to the courtroom or moves to sentencing. The filing marks the latest step in a process that has spanned months since the May 2025 incident.
