ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter set July 15 as the double murder trial date for Andrew Isaac Griffin.

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

Ohio Public Defender Kirk McVay and Belmont County Public Defender Aaron Miller are representing Griffin, with McVay saying he believes 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 told McVay that he was going to proceed with setting the trial for July 15 and suggested that if McVay believes he will need additional time the court will entertain a motion for a continuance.

“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 told McVay.

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