National Roundup

North Carolina
Federal court ­supports man’s innocence claim in 1976 death
WILSON, N.C. (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a North Carolina man who’s spent more than four decades in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit.

The Wilson Times reports the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded 80-year-old Charles Ray Finch’s constitutional rights were violated during three police lineups and no reasonable juror would have convicted Finch based on the totality of evidence.

Finch was convicted in the 1976 death of Richard Holloman, who was shot during a failed robbery inside his country store.

The Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic has worked on Finch’s case since 2001. Co-director Jim Coleman says the ruling technically sends the case back to the lower court, but he hopes state Attorney General Josh Stein will join a motion to overturn the conviction and release Finch.

Rhode Island
Judge rules in favor of Hasbro in Life lawsuit
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — It appears Hasbro is the true winner of The Game of Life.

The Providence Journal reports a Los Angeles federal judge ruled in favor of the Rhode Island-based toy company Friday in a lawsuit over who owns the rights to the popular board game.

The widow of toy inventor Bill Markham claimed in the lawsuit her husband was denied his legacy of creating the game, and Reuben Klamer took full credit.

She says her husband was also cut out of more than $2 million in royalties.

Both Hasbro and Klamer argued Markham was hired by Klamer to create a prototype for the game.

The judge said in his ruling that the creation of the game was a collective effort, and the copyright belonged to the hirer and not the worker.

Ohio
Judge dismisses wrongful death claim against ­Walmart
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A judge has dismissed a wrongful death claim against Walmart in a civil rights lawsuit over a white police officer’s fatal shooting of a black man in an Ohio Walmart who was carrying an air rifle he picked up.

A federal judge in Dayton ruled Monday that other claims, including negligence, can proceed against Walmart in the 2014 death of 22-year-old John Crawford III.

Crawford’s family sued Walmart, the city of Beavercreek and police. The judge previously ruled most counts against the Beavercreek officer who shot Crawford after spotting him with the unpackaged rifle, could continue. The officer wasn’t charged.

A message left for Walmart’s attorney wasn’t immediately returned.

Crawford family attorney Michael Wright said they’re disappointed the claim was dismissed, but happy their other claims against Walmart can proceed.

Connecticut
Yale investigating sexual ­misconduct
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Yale University has hired a former federal prosecutor to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against a former psychiatry professor at a research facility he ran in the Caribbean.

Yale President Peter Salovey says former U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly will interview students, alumni and others who may have information about the conduct of Dr. Eugene Redmond, who retired last July after the school started disciplinary proceedings against him.

The school says Redmond had agreed to end an internship program at the facility on St. Kitts after allegations of misconduct first arose in 1994, but could not be verified.

The university says Redmond subsequently revived that program and more allegations surfaced.

Redmond did not immediately return an email to his office in St. Kitts seeking comment.

Florida
Man arrested for killing 3 also accused of ­stealing $210K
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man killed his parents and brother after he was kicked out of his home and accused of stealing $210,000 from his family to send to a woman he had met on a porn website, according to a sheriff’s office.

Grant Amato, 29, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, Chad and Margaret Ann Amato, and brother Cody.

Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the victims’ bodies Friday in their Chuluota home after a co-worker reported that Cody Amato had not shown up for work.

Grant Amato was arrested and ordered held without bail Monday.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that according to an affidavit, Cody Amato’s girlfriend told deputies Grant Amato had stolen $60,000 and guns from his brother. She said Grant Amato had been kicked out of a training program to become a nurse anesthetist and stole the money to talk to a Bulgarian woman he met online. She also said Cody Amato told her he was afraid Grant “would kill everyone.”

Another brother, Jason Amato, told investigators Grant had stolen $150,000 from their father.

In an interview with investigators, Grant Amato said he had argued with his parents over his relationship with the woman he met through an adult website and that his parents told him he could have no contact with her if he wanted to continue living at their home.

Amato said he began a 60-day internet- and sex-addiction treatment program in Fort Lauderdale in late December at his parents’ request, but he left after a few weeks.

“Grant Amato initially agreed to the rules his father had set, but he didn’t think they were fair because he felt that the Bulgarian female was his girlfriend and they had a relationship,” the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, in response to seeing crime-scene pictures of his parents and brother, Amato said “his family had been blaming him for months for ruining their lives ... so he might as well be blamed for this, too.”

The Sentinel reported that last year, authorities responded twice to calls about Amato’s behavior.

In June, Orlando police responded to AdventHealth Orlando, where he worked as a nurse, about a report of a suicidal person. Officers said Amato did not meet the criteria to be held for observation as a danger to himself or others, but he was arrested on a grand theft charge for allegedly stealing vials of Propofol, a powerful sedative.

Amato said he took the drug for patients who were not “adequately relaxed by doctor-ordered medication,” according to a police report. Prosecutors opted against filing charges against him.

On Dec. 20, his mother and brother reported that Amato was missing, depressed and possibly suicidal after losing his job and failing out of school. They also told deputies Amato had access to guns.

Jail records did not show whether Amato had an attorney.