Akron man accused of starting North Hill fire that killed 2 will be retried

Akron Beacon Journal
·1 min read

An Akron man accused of starting a fire that killed a North Hill couple last October will go on trial again.

A jury was unable to reach a verdict in Leon Newsome’s September trial in Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Defendant Leon Newsome and defense attorney John Greven look at photos as an Akron Fire Department investigator testifies in Newsome's trial for starting a fire that killed two people in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O'Brien's courtroom in Akron.
Defendant Leon Newsome and defense attorney John Greven look at photos as an Akron Fire Department investigator testifies in Newsome's trial for starting a fire that killed two people in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O'Brien's courtroom in Akron.

Summit County prosecutors said during a status hearing Thursday that they will retry Newsome.

Judge Tammy O’Brien set the new trial date for Feb. 20.

Newsome, 39, is accused of lighting a couch on fire on the ground floor of a Carpenter Street home where Casey Blanchfield, 31, and Thomas "TJ" Litton, 43, were sleeping in the third-floor attic. Witnesses said Newsome threatened to kill his girlfriend and everyone else who lived in the house before the fire.

Blanchfield and Litton died of smoke inhalation and thermal injury, according to their autopsies.

Newsome, also known as "Nitty," is charged with 14 felonies, including four counts each of aggravated murder and murder, six counts of aggravated arson and two counts of felonious assault. The murder charges involve different parts of state law.

Attorneys John Greven and Nathan Ray represent Newsome.

More: Akron man threatened residents before house fire that killed two, investigators say

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Leon Newsome to be tried again for a fatal Akron fire that killed 2