OTTAWA — County Attorney Heather Jones spent this morning questioning potential jurors in a murder trial in which Paul Nicholson of Ottawa was knifed to death last summer. The attorney for 44-year-old John Balbirnie, Frederick Meyer, was scheduled to begin questioning jurors this afternoon. Balbirnie is accused of second-degree murder in Nicholson’s death. Brandon Ellsmore, 23, Ottawa, was also charged of second-degree murder in Nicholson’s death. However, Jones said Ellsmore agreed to a deal in which he pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Balbirnie.
Monday, April 11, 8:30 a.m.; updated 4 p.m.
