Cleveland man convicted in fire that killed 9 wants case tossed

A memorial is made in 2012 on the steps of the burned-out house where 9 people died in 2005 in Cleveland. Antun Lewis, the Ohio man convicted of setting the house fire that killed a woman and eight children at a birthday sleepover has asked a judge to throw out his conviction.
A memorial is made in 2012 on the steps of the burned-out house where 9 people died in 2005 in Cleveland. Antun Lewis, the Ohio man convicted of setting the house fire that killed a woman and eight children at a birthday sleepover has asked a judge to throw out his conviction. Tony Dejak — The Associated Press file

By The Associated Press

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CLEVELAND >> An Ohio man convicted of setting a house fire that killed a woman and eight children at a birthday sleepover has asked a judge to throw out his conviction.

Juries have twice convicted Antun Lewis on charges he set the 2005 fire in Cleveland.

>> Appeals court denies 3rd trial over Cleveland fire that killed 9

Lewis has contended repeatedly that he didn’t set the fire and expressed condolences to the families. The 34-year-old Lewis is serving a 35-year prison sentence.

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Lewis asked U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. last week to throw out his conviction because of poor legal assistance, including his attorney’s failure to ask for a new location for the second trial.

Oliver gave government prosecutors until the middle of next month to respond to Lewis’ request.