YOUNGSTOWN Murder verdict expected next week
The judge needs time to look over the exhibits and consider the evidence.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A judge will decide next week whether Ada Hill died as a result of a freak accident or at the hands of an angry, jealous boyfriend.
Those were the scenarios laid out in the trial of Pernell Harrison of Oak Street, who is charged with murder.
Harrison, 40, is accused of killing Hill in November 1998 in the basement of the home they shared. Testimony wrapped up Tuesday morning, after which lawyers made their closing arguments to Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
At the request of defense attorney Charles Dunlap, the matter was tried before the judge instead of a jury. Judge Evans said he needs time to go over all the evidence and testimony before he renders a verdict.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Maillis painted a picture of Harrison as a possessive man who became angry when Hill was near other men. On the night of the shooting, two men were at the house visiting. They were acquaintances who had come with a woman who was a lifelong friend of Hill's.
Changing story
Maillis said Harrison repeatedly lied to police about the shooting, first saying it happened while he was cleaning his gun. The weapon accidentally fired, striking Hill, he said.
Harrison later told police, however, that the gun fell onto the floor and fired, then later said it fell to the floor but did not fire until after he picked it up and was showing Hill that it was unloaded.
Harrison told police that he never kept the gun loaded, though Maillis pointed out that in order for the gun to fire, even accidentally, it had to be loaded with a bullet pumped into the chamber and the safety disengaged.
"From the very beginning, Pernell Harrison's story has been lie upon lie upon lie," Maillis said.
Dunlap said Harrison never tried to mislead police or anyone else, but that he was merely confused about the events that led to Hill's shooting.
"This was an emotional, panic-stricken man trying to piece together a freak accident," Dunlap said.
Hill's relatives, sitting in the back of the courtroom, grimaced and rolled their eyes when Dunlap described Harrison's emotional state upon seeing "his beloved wife" bleeding on the floor.
Harrison's only fault in the matter, Dunlap said, was keeping a loaded gun in the house. He said there's no proof that Harrison intentionally pulled the trigger that night.
bjackson@vindy.com