City man charged with arson murders challenges death-penalty method

YOUNGSTOWN — Defense lawyers for Michael A. Davis, who faces the death penalty for allegedly setting the Jan. 23 East Side house fire that killed six people, filed a motion challenging the constitutionality of Ohio’s lethal injection method of execution, but the judge declined to set a hearing on it before the trial.

The one-inch thick motion, filed by Attys. James Gentile and Ronald Yarwood, says the method is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Davis, 18, of Bennington Avenue, faces an Oct. 6 jury trial on charges contained in a 29-count aggravated murder and aggravated arson indictment in what authorities call the largest mass murder in the city’s history.

Carol Crawford, 46; her daughter, Jennifer R. Crawford, 23; and Jennifer’s four children, Ranaisha, 8; Jeannine, 5; Aleisha, 3; and Brandon, 2, died in the Stewart Avenue blaze.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court declined to set a hearing on the defense motion before Davis’ trial because he said the matter wouldn’t be ripe for his consideration unless or until Davis is convicted of one or more death-penalty specifications. “The cart is well before the horse,” the judge said today.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.