Thursday, August 21, 2003
The trial will recess today and resume Wednesday.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jury selection began Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for one of two men charged in the drive-by shooting death of a 3-month-old baby earlier this year.
Wayne Gilliam, 21, of Euclid Avenue, is charged with seven felony counts, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. Police say he was the driver of the car from which the shots were fired at a house on Rutledge Drive in March.
Jiyen C. Dent Jr. was in a baby swing in the living room when a bullet tore through the wall and struck him in the head, police said.
The child's parents also were in the house, which is the reason for the attempted aggravated murder charges.
Police and prosecutors say John Drummond Jr. of Allerton Court was the shooter. Drummond is in the county jail awaiting trial in January 2004. He could be sentenced to death if he is convicted.
Awaiting trial
The death penalty is not an option for Gilliam, though he could get life in prison without parole.
Judge Maureen A. Cronin included a question on the juror background form, asking whether prospective jurors had seen or read news accounts of a baby being killed in Youngstown five months ago. Many responded that they knew nothing about it.
Judge Cronin said the trial would be put on hold today because defense attorney Damian Billak had a previously scheduled commitment that could not be rearranged. The trial will resume Wednesday, when selection of a jury is to be completed and testimony will begin.
Assistant prosecutor Timothy Franken said last week that Gilliam had been offered a 23-year prison sentence recommendation if he would plead guilty to reduced charges and testify against Drummond when he goes to trial.
Billak said that long of a sentence was unacceptable and Gilliam rejected the deal.