Defense to recall killer's childhood

The defense plans to call relatives, friends and a psychologist to testify on behalf of Nathaniel Jackson.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Attorneys trying to save a Youngstown man from the death penalty plan to tell jurors about his violent childhood.
Anthony Consoldane, one of the attorneys representing Nathaniel Jackson, said Monday jurors will be told Jackson was shot and injured as a child and lived in a "very violent" neighborhood.
"Mr. Jackson's grade school records show that his mother called him off from school because he had been shot," Consoldane said. He wasn't sure Monday how old Jackson was at the time.
"He had a very rough childhood," Consoldane said.
Jackson was convicted Friday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court of aggravated murder, burglary and robbery, with firearms specifications.
Penalty phase
The penalty phase of the trial is to begin Thursday.
The jurors will listen to the defense say why they believe Jackson should not be sentenced to death. The defense plans to call relatives, friends and a psychologist.
After the witnesses are through testifying, the jury will decide if Jackson should face death, life in prison without parole, or a 25- or 30-year sentence, and will make a recommendation to Judge John Stuard.
If the jury recommends death, the judge can reduce it to a prison sentence. If the jury recommends a prison sentence, the judge cannot elevate it to death.
Jackson, 30, of South Pearl Street, Youngstown, and Donna Roberts, 57, of Howland, were charged with killing Robert Fingerhut in his Fonderlac Drive S.E. residence Dec. 11, 2001.
Roberts and Fingerhut were divorced but were living together. She is scheduled to go on trial in April.
Jackson's trial began last month.
Letters
Prosecutor Dennis Watkins produced numerous letters written by Jackson to Roberts, which he said showed the two were planning Fingerhut's murder and Jackson was waiting at the home for Fingerhut to arrive.
Watkins said the letters showed Jackson and Roberts kept in touch while Jackson was an inmate in Lorain Correctional Institution.
Jackson was released from prison Dec. 9 after serving one year on a conviction out of Mahoning County on two counts of receiving stolen property.
sinkovich@vindy.com