Posted on 07/09/2002 8:44:51 PM PDT by syriacus
Man accused of assault on wife, her friend at festival
LEBANON | A Warren County judge has rejected a Cincinnati man's plan to claim he dropped boxes, soda cans, drums and a sheathed dagger on his estranged wife and her lover at the Ohio Renaissance Festival last fall out of fear they were vampires.
David R. Biren, 52, is charged with domestic violence and assault in Warren County Court.
The trial, expected to take three days, began Monday after court officials said Judge James Heath barred Biren and his lawyer from claiming he was justified in using force against Kimberly A. Biren or Charles "Shadow" Perkins because he believed they were vampires.
Last month, lawyer Jason Showen argued Kimberly Biren's "extensive involvement in the vampire world with her paramour Shadow," as well as "Shadow's prior financial dealings with several women" was among the evidence he needed to defend David Biren against assault and domestic violence charges.
Assistant County Prosecutor Leslie Meyer had urged Heath to prohibit any mention of vampires, financial dealings or Perkins' or Kimberly Biren's mental health during the trial.
On Monday, an eight-person jury, plus an alternate, traveled to the grounds of the festival, east of Caesar Creek State Park.
On Oct. 12, Biren is alleged to have thrown boxes, soda cans, drums and a sheathed dagger onto Perkins, 29, of Amelia as he walked beneath a loft in a building where the Birens worked during the festival. Kimberly Biren, 34, who also lives in Amelia, was struck when she went to Perkins' aid, according to police.
Somebody drop a NET over him, for fear he's a WHACKO!!!
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