George Wagner IV trial remains moored in evidence review phase

Update, 7:58 p.m.: Jurors heard less than an hour of testimony but the courtroom in the murder trial of George Wagner IV was busy from the early morning and into the night.

Attorneys continued, to the admitted frustration of Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering, to sort through the evidence to be submitted in order to officially move the trial forward to the defense's presentation.

Deering said he expected the submission of exhibits in the trial to last less than a full workday. However, the sides continued Monday's contentious arguments over the relevance of the collection of evidence the state presented.

Jurors only heard more testimony from witnesses called by the defense. Bernard Brown owned property where the Wagners stored items while they lived in Alaska. Alex Staley was also called and was a friend of the Wagners.

Deering sent the jury home after that testimony, but he and the attorneys reviewed objections to evidence until almost 8 p.m. The process remains incomplete and will continue Wednesday.

The attorneys are expected to report for further evidence review at 8 a.m. Wednesday, with the jury returning at around 9 a.m.

Update, 1:10 p.m.: Hearing testimony for less than an hour, the jurors in the murder trial of George Wagner IV were sent home for the day so the court's review of evidence could continue Tuesday.

The attorneys spent the morning debating in front of Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering about which exhibits should be submitted by the prosecution before the state could rest and the defense resume its case full-time.

That full-time action, which is typical in criminal trials, did not happen. Again. Instead, jurors heard more testimony from witnesses called by the defense. Bernard Brown owned property where the Wagners stored items while they lived in Alaska. Alex Staley was also called and was a friend of the Wagners.

Update, 12:24 p.m.: The jury has returned in the murder trial of George Wagner IV Tuesday afternoon.

The defense has, again, jumped in before the state has officially rested its case in order to expedite the process.

Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering spent the morning sorting through which evidence will be admitted before the defense proceeds with its case. But the attorneys and judge agreed again to allow the defense to continue presenting witnesses before the prosecution officially rests its case.

Further review of evidence by the court is expected this evening without the jury present.

If the audio or video elements of this story are not operating, it is because the judge has allowed witnesses to "opt out" of media coverage of their testimony.

WAVERLY, Ohio − The review of the prosecution's evidence is expected to continue Tuesday in the murder trial of George Wagner IV.

On Monday, the attorneys from both the defense and state reviewed the evidence for submission to the court before the prosecution rests its case. That process is expected to finish Tuesday before the defense continues presenting its case.

The defense and prosecution's presentations have been intermingled in the trial following the largest homicide investigation in Ohio history.

Wagner IV and his other immediate family were accused in the killings of the Rhoden family in April of 2016.

Pike County Common Pleas Judge Randy Deering said the evidence review will continue Tuesday morning around 8:30 a.m. Once the court finishes its review of the evidence, the jury is expected to be called into the courtroom and the defense will resume its case. At that point, the prosecution is expected to rest its case.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Pike County killings: Wagner IV trial remains moored in evidence phase