COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several subpoenas were issued Thursday in the murder trial for former Franklin County Sheriff's deputy Jason Meade, causing the judge to delay the case until they can be questioned.
As of Friday evening, two more subpoenas have been filed since Thursday morning, which makes nine in the past 48 hours. One is calling for an additional witness.
“I think what is going on lately is highly unusual. It's really unusual for any party to have a last-minute witness come forward, especially an important one,” said former U.S. Attorney David DeVillers.
DeVillers said it will be important to find out how this new witness came forward and what they know.
“I think the idea is, how did this person come to make contact with the prosecution? And it is my understanding it was likely through Ms. Payne and her attorney, which isn't illegal or unethical. It brings a lot of questions, especially if that person is in fact watching the trial,” DeVillers said.
According to court documents filed Thursday, the prosecution is looking to add a witness that wasn't previously listed as a possibility. Additional subpoenas show attorneys want to know about any communication between Goodson's mom, Tamala Payne, Goodson family attorney, Sean Walton and a man named Christopher Corne.
Special prosecutors have asked to depose Corne and defense attorneys have asked for all GPS records and Corne's employment file. Corne's address on the court documents are listed as a heating and cooling business.
In court, one of Goodson's neighbors claimed she was concerned about an HVAC van in the neighborhood the day of the shooting.
DeVillers does not think this new potential witness will cause a mistrial saying, “Judge Young is in charge. If Judge Young is either going to let this in or not. If he doesn't let it in, he doesn't have to worry about a mistrial because they won't ask for one.”
Devillers said he isn't convinced this new witness may make a difference in the trial.
“I as a prosecutor would think that smells of desperation more than anything else. I'm not sure it's worth the bother,” he said.
The trial is set to resume on Tuesday.