Accused child rapist and murderer leaps to his death at courthouse

A US man facing child rape and murder charges has jumped to his death inside an Ohio court house while being escorted to trial.

Robert Seman, 48, leaped over the bannister in the Mahoning County Court rotunda and dived four storeys to his death as he was being led before a judge on Monday to begin his trial.

Seman was accused of setting fire to a house in March 2015 killing Bill and Judy Schmidt and their 10-year-old granddaughter Corinne Gump.

Prosecutors believed the 48-year-old set fire to the house because Gump was going to testify she was repeatedly raped by Seman.

He faced the death penalty if convicted.

CCTV showed Seman being led towards a courtroom by two officers when he fell behind.

The 48-year-old made a quick dash for the balcony and disappeared over the edge.

Seman’s attorney, Tom Zena, said he was shocked by what happened as his client had continuously maintained his innocence, WKBN reports.

"We told him he’d have to be there on the 12th, and he said, ‘When will they be taking me?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. They don’t tell us that for security reasons, but we’ll see you there on the 12th,'” he said.

The courthouse was closed off after the incident and ropes were places around Seman's body until paramedics arrived.

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