Jury deliberates murder case

YOUNGSTOWN — A jury will resume deliberating today the fate of Larese Jones, who prosecutors say is guilty of murder through his complicity in a robbery that led to the shooting death of Richard Helms at the hands of the intended robbery victim.

After Judge R. Scott Krichbaum gave them 75 minutes of instructions, the jurors began deliberating Wednesday afternoon. They viewed a 71-minute videotape of the interview Jones gave police following his arrest, before suspending their deliberations until this morning.

Jones, 30, of Wampum Drive, is on trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated drug trafficking and involuntary manslaughter. He could face up to a life prison term if he’s convicted of the murder charge.

For more, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com