Selection of jury starts trial in slaying

A codefendant has pleaded guilty and will testify for prosecutors in the trial.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;By BOB JACKSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man accused of fatally shooting a 24-year-old Austintown woman at a West Side bar more than two years ago was to go on trial today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
LaTawon Townsend, 22, of South Garland Avenue, is charged with aggravated murder in the Jan. 12, 2002, shooting death of Angela Loibl at the T-N-T Bar on Steel Street. Jury selection in his trial was to begin this morning in the courtroom of Judge James C. Evans.
If he is convicted, Townsend faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, with parole eligibility after he serves at least 20 years. He also faces a firearm specification, which carries a mandatory three-year sentence if he is found guilty.
Expected to testify
A codefendant, Jose Rivera, is among those expected to testify on behalf of prosecutors. The 25-year-old Grandview Avenue man was originally charged with aggravated murder, but cut a deal with prosecutors in October 2002.
In exchange for Rivera agreeing to testify against Townsend, his charge was reduced to involuntary manslaughter, to which he pleaded guilty. Rivera also pleaded to a firearm specification.
Rivera won't be sentenced until after Townsend's trial. Prosecutors have recommended that he get the maximum sentence of 13 years.
Rivera has told authorities that he and Townsend were at the bar earlier the night of the shooting, but got kicked out after Townsend got into a fight on the dance floor. When they left, Townsend was angry and vowed to return and "light the place up," Rivera said.
The men drove to Townsend's house, where Townsend went inside and got two guns. They changed cars and drove back to the bar. Rivera said the last thing he saw was Townsend walking into the bar with a gun in his pocket.
Moments later, a crowd of people came rushing out the door, apparently frightened by Townsend waving his gun around, prosecutors have said.
Victim's death
Assistant Prosecutor Jay Macejko said witnesses saw Townsend walk into a kitchen area, where he found Loibl hiding behind a freezer and shot her at point-blank range, killing her. Macejko said the two did not know each other and that Loibl was shot for no apparent reason.
"I have seen a lot of murders over the years, but I have never seen one like this one and I hope I never see another one like it," Macejko said. "It was just so senseless."
Defense attorney Thomas Zena filed motions Wednesday asking that the charges against Townsend be dismissed. He said prosecutors had not met their obligation to bring Townsend to trial within statutory time limits, but the judge disagreed and overruled the motion.
& lt;a href=mailto:bjackson@vindy.com & gt;bjackson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;