MAHONING COUNTY MURDER Blackshear goes free, and Love heads to prison

One man was convicted and the other was set free.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Even though deputies were handcuffing him and taking him back to jail, a wide smile crossed Robert Blackshear's face Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Christopher Love, who was also being handcuffed, stood grim-faced.
A jury had just cleared 44-year-old Blackshear of any blame in the 1999 stomping death of Olivia Hubbert, who was also 44, but found Love guilty of her aggravated murder.
Each blamed other
The two men had been held together in the county jail while the matter was pending. Each was charged in the death, and each blamed the other for what happened.
Blackshear was returned to the lockup after his acquittal, but only for processing so he could be released. He was set free around 3 p.m.
Love, 26, showed no emotion as his verdict was announced by Judge Robert Lisotto. He did look up at Blackshear, even as their shoulders brushed when deputies led them out of the courtroom.
Blackshear, however, glared at Love as they passed. He did not speak to him, though.
Love faces a mandatory sentence of 20 years to life in prison. An official sentencing date has not been set.
"We are delighted that the jury took their time and carefully considered the evidence with each defendant individually," said Atty. Dennis DiMartino, who represented Blackshear.
Plans appeal
Love's lawyer, Paul Conn, was frustrated by the split decision and said he will appeal.
"I have always respected what juries do, but I think a mistake was made here," Conn said. "My client was telling the truth."
Robert Andrews, assistant prosecutor, was disappointed that both men were not convicted.
"But I respect the jury's decision," Andrews said. "They had a difficult job to do."
Hubbert was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head several times outside a building in the Victory Annex housing complex on the city's East Side during the early hours of July 5, 1999.
Prosecutors say Hubbert died later that night, asphyxiated by crushed bones in her neck.
Witnesses testified during the trial that it was Love who punched Hubbert and knocked her to the ground, then kicked her repeatedly and jumped on her as she lay on the ground.
Love, though, testified that he never punched or kicked her. He said Blackshear was arguing with Hubbert over money she owed him for drugs. When Love interceded, Hubbert spit in his face. Angered, he pushed her in the face and knocked her down.
He said that's when Blackshear started kicking her, leaving the woman alive but unconscious.
Love and Conn said witnesses would not testify against Blackshear because they were afraid of him.
"The jury was obviously troubled by the disparity in the evidence against the two defendants," DiMartino said.
bjackson@vindy.com