Woman pleads guilty in aunt's death

No one claims to know the nature of the argument that led to the shooting.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Authorities still don't know why Evelyn Huffman is dead.
The 45-year-old Funston Avenue woman was shot by her niece, Christina Homa, after the two argued in January 2003, authorities say.
But police, prosecutors and Homa's lawyer all say the nature of that argument remains a mystery.
"No one really knows," said defense attorney John B. Juhasz.
Regardless of the motive, Homa pleaded guilty Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to one count of voluntary manslaughter, which was reduced from murder.
Assistant Prosecutor Jay Macejko recommended that Judge James C. Evans sentence the East Myrtle Avenue woman to a total of 10 years in prison -- seven years for manslaughter and three years for using a firearm to commit the crime.
The judge ordered a background check on Homa before sentencing. She will remain in the county jail until then.
Macejko said Huffman went to Homa's house with a male friend Jan. 27, 2003. Shortly after Huffman arrived, an argument broke out between the women and Homa fired two shots from a .22-caliber handgun.
One shot hit the ground and the other struck Huffman in the abdomen.
"It was an argument that obviously escalated way out of hand," Macejko said.
Homa was originally charged with felonious assault, but the charge was changed to murder when Huffman died four days later. Prosecutors amended the charge to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for the guilty plea. If Homa had been convicted of murder, she would have faced a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life in prison, with an additional mandatory three years for using a firearm.