Basinger steps aside as judge in Richey case

Basinger, a Putnam County Common Pleas judge, asked Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer to appoint another judge to handle the case. A judge has not been assigned yet, said Andrea Strle, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Supreme Court.

Richey’s attorney, Ken Parsigian, said he expects Richey will be moved off Ohio’s death row to the Putnam County jail by the end of the week. Parsigian also wants a bond hearing by next week but that can only take place after Richey is transferred and a motion for the bond hearing is filed and granted, he said.

Richey, 43, has been on death row since 1987 for the fire death of 2-year-old Cynthia Collins in a Columbus Grove apartment fire in 1986. He was convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated arson, child endangering, and breaking and entering.

Richey has been granted a new trial after the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his conviction based on inadequate representation by attorneys at his 1987 trial. Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers said he will retry the case.

Richey’s case has captured international attention because he shares U.S. and British citizenship. Richey has maintained his innocence and said a trial will prove that