LISBON When a hearing for a new murder trial resumes Tuesday, the real drama may be between the judge and a defense attorney already twice cited for contempt of court. Kafantaris’ practice of making leading statements to witnesses and interjecting his opinion drew Pike’s ire during the hearing just as it did during the murder trial in March for Andrew Irwin. During the murder trial in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, Pike twice held Kafantaris in contempt of court and sentenced him to 20 days in the county jail, which is being held in abeyance until the hearing for a new trial is over. Pike then asked Kafantaris the whereabouts of his client, and the attorney said he assumed the county would have brought him back for the hearing. As was the case at the murder trial, County Prosecutor Robert Herron and Chief Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble repeatedly objected to Kafantaris’ habit of asking leading questions and stating his opinions about what he thinks the testimony means. read more

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