TRUMBULL COUNTY 3 more witnesses to testify in murder trial

The judge denied the defense attorneys' request to dismiss all charges.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Prosecutors are planning to call additional witnesses today in the capital murder trial of Nathaniel Jackson.
Prosecutor Dennis Watkins said Monday that he plans to call three additional witnesses.
The witnesses are scheduled to begin testifying this morning. Watkins, who declined to identify the witnesses, said he believes all three should be done testifying in about 30 minutes.
Jackson is facing aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary charges in the Dec. 11 shooting death of Robert Fingerhut. Jackson's trial began last month in the courtroom of Judge John Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
If convicted, Jackson could face the death penalty.
Loose ends
Both the prosecution and defense finished their cases last week, but Watkins said during a hearing Monday that he had additional witnesses. Jurors were not present during Monday's hearing.
After the witnesses testify today, the jury will be sent home and attorneys will be given the day to work on their closing arguments, court officials said. The jury will be asked to return to the court Wednesday.
After the closing arguments, jurors will receive instructions and then will begin deliberations. The jurors will not be allowed to return home until a verdict is reached, court officials said.
If a decision is not reached by late Wednesday, jurors will be taken to a local hotel and will resume deliberations Thursday, court officials said.
Two accused
Jackson, 30, of South Pearl Street, Youngstown, and Donna Roberts, 57, of Howland, are both accused of killing Fingerhut, of Fonderlac Street S.E. Roberts and Fingerhut were divorced but were living together at the time of his death, police said.
Roberts' trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 18.
Jackson's trial began last month.
Atty. Anthony Consoldane, along with Atty. James Lewis of the Ohio Public Defender's Office, is representing Jackson. The two attorneys asked Judge Stuard during Monday's hearing to dismiss all the charges filed against Jackson. The attorneys said they did not believe Watkins and Charles Morrow, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, proved their case during the trial.
Judge Stuard, however, denied the request, stating he thinks the prosecutor provided sufficient evidence.
The defense maintains that Jackson was acting in self-defense when Fingerhut died.
Consoldane said Fingerhut brought Jackson to his home and started a fight. Consoldane said it was Fingerhut who pulled a gun on Jackson.
Letters are evidence
During the two-week trial, Watkins, however, produced numerous letters written by Jackson to Roberts, which he said showed the two were planning Fingerhut's murder. Watkins said Jackson was waiting at the home when Fingerhut arrived.
Watkins said the letters showed that Jackson and Roberts kept in touch while Jackson was an inmate at the Lorain Correctional Institution.
Jackson was released from prison Dec. 9 after serving one year on a conviction out of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on two counts of receiving stolen property.
sinkovich@vindy.com