TRUMBULL COUNTY TRIAL In penalty phase, convicted killer offers apologies

Defense attorneys say Mark Worley was physically and emotionally abused while growing up.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 22-year-old man convicted of murdering an elderly couple says he's "deeply sorry" for his actions.
Mark Worley of Youngstown, who could get the death penalty, told jurors during the punishment phase of his trial that he knows he "must take responsibility" for his actions.
"I regret the things I did and for letting it happen," said Worley, who appeared to be nervous. "An elderly couple that didn't deserve to die were brutally murdered."
"I wish I could go back and change the events that took place," Worley said. "I often lie awake in my bed and think of what I could have done differently."
The same jury that found Worley guilty last week of the murder of Charles London and the aggravated murder of Dorothy London spent several hours Monday in the Trumbull County Common Pleas courtroom of Judge Andrew Logan listening to the facts about Worley's life.
Deliberations to begin: The jury is scheduled to begin deliberating his fate today.
Because the aggravated murder of Mrs. London, 74, took place during a burglary and kidnapping, Worley could be sentenced to death. The jury, however, also can recommend that Worley spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole or life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 or 30 years.
Attys. James Gentile and Lou DeFabio, who represent Worley, said they don't "want to excuse Worley's actions" but believe his life should be spared.
DeFabio said Worley went to the Londons' Hubbard Township home Dec. 15, 1999, with Scott Burrows, 20, to rob the elderly couple. Gentile said it was Burrows who decided to kill the couple.
DeFabio told the jurors that Burrows was convicted of two counts of aggravated murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
DeFabio said that Worley's mother is mentally ill and was diagnosed with having multiple personalities. DeFabio said Worley endured "physical and mental abuse" while growing up. DeFabio added that since Worley's mother was ill, she was unable to care for him; and his father, who was a truck driver, was not home very much.
Psychologist's testimony: James A. Karpawich, a clinical psychologist from Hudson, and several of Worley's relatives testified that Worley was "very troubled" and often threatened to commit suicide.
Karpawich said Worley "was in and out" of hospital psychiatric wards for years and couldn't afford to buy his prescriptions. He noted that when Worley was 8, school officials called authorities because Worley came to school with bruises.
"His three brothers were sent to live with an uncle and he stayed in a foster home," Karpawich testified. "He was diagnosed as having a mental disorder as a youth. He was troubled and he had no stability at home."
When asked during cross examination by Prosecutor Dennis Watkins if he believed in the death penalty, Karpawich said that sometimes he felt the death penalty is warranted -- "but not in this case."