CINCINNATI (ENQUIRER) – A Cincinnati man prosecutors once described as a “serial killer” agreed to a plea deal Monday that will make him a free man after 18 years behind bars, according to our partners at the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Angelo Howard, who had previously denied involvement in any homicides, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of Gino Booker in October 2002 and felonious assault against Tim Canady on the day he was killed in December 2002.
Judge Christopher McDowell then sentenced Howard to the 18 years he’s already served in jail and prison, ending a long legal battle that raised questions about the way police and prosecutors handled evidence and used informants who were instrumental in sending Howard to prison. Howard was expected to be released late Monday.
The judge and prosecutors both acknowledged that problems with the case, including the failure to disclose relevant evidence to defense attorneys for years, entitled Howard to a new trial. But going forward with a trial would have been difficult since most of the evidence was destroyed years after Howard’s conviction…