photo by: Joselyn King

Andrew Isaac Griffin, right, accused in the 2021 double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion, sits at the defense table with attorney Ashton Gaitanos of Columbus during a hearing in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Friday.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A new defense attorney for accused murderer Andrew Isaac Griffin asked Friday that Griffin’s trial date set for spring be continued.

Griffin is accused in the double homicide of Thomas and Angela Strussion at their Trails End Drive home near Belmont in 2021. Griffin is a former business partner of Thomas Strussion’s in owning the former Salsa Joe’s.

A pretrial hearing in the case took place Friday afternoon before Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Berhalter. Griffin, who was present in the courtroom, was represented by attorney Ashton Gaitanos of Columbus.

Gaitanos requested that the trial date be suspended for at least two months “based on information received from experts in the matter.”

“The current trial scheduled is not feasible, and will require additional time to preserve Mr. Griffin’s constitutional rights,” Gaitanos told Berhalter.

The judge asked if the additional time was “absolutely necessary,” and Gaitanos noted that it was.

Berhalter granted the continuance, but acknowledged this “created other issues that need explored.”

He encouraged both parties to do their research, then meet and see “if there is any agreement as to what their findings are.”

The attorneys are expected to present these at the next pre-trial hearing in the case, which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.

A new trial date also will be set that day, according to Berhalter.

Also during Friday’s pre-trial hearing, Belmont County Detective Jordan Blumling provided testimony on why he should be considered an expert in electronic evidence gathering and be permitted to testify during the trial. The defense is challenging the motion.

Berhalter said a ruling on the matter would be forthcoming soon.