Closings in trial of man accused of killing deputy delayed to next week

Closing arguments in the Rodney Hinton Jr. trial are now expected to take place Tuesday, Oct. 20, the judge announced Oct. 16. One of Hinton’s attorneys, Clyde Bennett II, is not available Monday, Oct. 19, because of a personal matter. Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers had previously

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Closing arguments in the Rodney Hinton Jr. trial are now expected to take place Tuesday, Oct. 20, the judge announced Oct. 16.

One of Hinton’s attorneys, Clyde Bennett II, is not available Monday, Oct. 19, because of a personal matter. Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers had previously told attorneys to be prepared for closing arguments Oct. 16.

Defense attorney Clyde Bennett II delivers his opening statement during Rodney Hinton Jr.’s trial on Oct. 7, 2026, in Judge Jody Luebbers’ courtroom. Prosecutors say Hinton struck and killed Deputy Larry Henderson as Henderson directed traffic for a graduation ceremony in May 2025.

Most of the day Oct. 16 was taken up by the prosecution’s final rebuttal witness, Jennifer O’Donnell, a forensic psychologist who examined Hinton.

O’Donnell is the second psychologist to testify that Hinton knew the wrongfulness of his actions when he drove into Hamilton County sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson last year.

Hinton has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. To prove that, his

attorneys have to show that he did not know right from wrong at the time of the May 2, 2025 crash.

Earlier that same day, Hinton had been shown police body camera video of his 18-year-old son, Ryan, being fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer.

Hinton told O’Donnell that before the collision, he was driving around, listening to music, trying to calm himself.

Rodney Hinton Jr. prepares to exit the courtroom at the conclusion of the second day of his trial at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in downtown Cincinnati. Prosecutors say Hinton intentionally drove into Deputy Larry Henderson, killing him as Henderson directed traffic for a graduation ceremony in May 2025.

Hinton said he was “just angry” about the loss of his son, O'Donnell said. He also talked about his grief.

“I was hurting,” Hinton told O’Donnell. “It was my first son.”

O’Donnell also said Hinton “admitted he hit the gas” before driving into Henderson. A crash reconstructionist said the car reached a maximum speed of about 45 mph.

Bennett focused on Hinton’s statement to O’Donnell that before the crash he heard a voice that caused him to look out his window.

Bennett suggested that the voice was a hallucination and that Hinton experienced a brief psychotic episode.

Hinton faces charges including aggravated murder. Luebbers has granted a request by his attorneys to allow the jury to consider a verdict of reckless homicide, a lesser charge punishable by up to three years in prison.

The trial began Oct. 5 with jury selection.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Closings in trial of man accused of killing deputy delayed to next week