Photo by Gage Vota Andrew Issac Griffin walks into Belmont County Common Pleas Court led by Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller and followed by Belmont County Sheriff’s Office officers.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter set a trial date of July 15, for Andrew Issac Griffin.

Griffin is accused of double homicide in the deaths of Angela and Thomas Strussion in 2021 and was arrested in Hawaii in February.

Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller are representing Griffin, with McVay saying that he believes that a July 15 start date does not give him enough time to provide his client with a proper defense.

“To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t see a way that we could be prepared to move forward on the fact investigation, let alone a mitigation investigation, by July 15,” McVay said.

Berhalter replied to McVay that he was going to proceed with setting the trial for July 15 and suggested that if he believes that he will need additional time that he will entertain a motion for a continuation.

“I advise you to make your motion as detailed as possible, that is, specific reasons why you’re seeking that time, not revealing any defense, but what work you still must undertake,” he said to McVay.

McVay replied that he will take advice and will provide as much details as possible without revealing his defense.