YOUNGSTOWN Murder trial date set for first of 4 suspects
In a trial set for next month, the defendant's sister is expected to testify against him.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors say that after Frank Sinkovich and his friends beat up and robbed Steve Skinner, they locked the 24-year-old Warren man in the trunk of his own car for several hours before killing him and setting the car on fire.
Sinkovich, 22, of Bennington Avenue, and three other suspects could receive the death penalty on the aggravated murder charge. They are also charged with kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery and conspiracy.
Sinkovich is the first of those suspects set for trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Jury selection is to begin April 24 before Judge James C. Evans.
Others to be tried: The other suspects are Kateo Patterson, 19, of Arch Street; Bobbie Beal, 23, of Hilton Avenue; and Clemons Higgins, 16, of Arch Street. Higgins is being tried as an adult.
Prosecutors filed a bill of particulars with the clerk of courts Tuesday, outlining what they believe happened last May.
The information is based on police investigation, testimony from Sinkovich's sister, Valentina, and from confessions Sinkovich and Beal allegedly made to police, said Jay Macejko, assistant prosecutor.
Will testify: Macejko said Valentina Sinkovich is expected to testify against her brother when the case goes to trial. Patterson was her boyfriend at the time of the murder, police said.
Court documents say the four suspects had agreed to rob Skinner when he arrived at Beal's house. Skinner went into the house long enough to make a phone call, then went outside, where he was beaten and robbed, the document says.
It says Skinner was knocked to the ground, punched and kicked by Patterson and Higgins while Sinkovich pointed a gun at him.
They stripped Skinner's car of its stereo equipment and stole personal items from him, then locked him in the trunk of his car, the document says.
They placed the stereo equipment in the trunk of Beal's car, which was parked nearby, the document says.
The group then conspired to kill Skinner at a different location, the document says.
After several hours had passed, Beal and Higgins took Skinner's car to an area behind Sacred Heart Church on the city's East Side. Sinkovich and Patterson followed in another car.
Burned car: All four suspects poured gasoline on the car and set it ablaze with Skinner inside, the document says. It says they then killed Skinner to cover up what they had done, though it does not say how he was killed.
Skinner's family reported him missing May 26.
His burned-out car was found by city police the next day, though his body was not discovered inside until a week later.
Sinkovich and Patterson refused a plea bargain in August in which they would have received reduced prison sentences in exchange for pleading guilty and testifying against the others.