Murder charge changed to voluntary manslaughter

WARREN — Prosecutors have changed the charge against Melanie Ferrell, the woman accused of killing Craig A. Holliday on North Park Avenue last week, from murder to voluntary manslaughter.

Ferrell appeared in Warren Municipal Court on the new charge on Thursday and waived a preliminary hearing in the case, which was then bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury.

The grand jury could indict her on voluntary manslaughter, murder another charge or release her, said Traci Timko Rose, Warren prosecutor.

Ferrell’s charge was changed after prosecutors learned more details of the case, Timko-Rose said.

Voluntary manslaughter and murder involve the killing of another person, but voluntary manslaughter has the added dimension that the person committing the homicide is driven to a sudden fit of rage by being provoked by the victim, Timko-Rose said.

In this case, it is believed that Ferrell, 37, of Washington Street, pulled a knife out from under her shirt and stabbed Holliday, 39, of North Park Avenue in the chest, after Holliday pulled a paint can lid remover from his belt and used it to cause a superficial scratch on Ferrell’s chest, below one breast, Timko-Rose said.

Voluntary manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The stabbing took place in the parking lot of USA Gas Mart on North Park Avenue at 11:45 p.m. July 28.

A witness at the scene told police officers that Ferrell and Holliday had been arguing and that Holliday was “keeping the argument going and being aggressive” toward Ferrell.

The witness said Holliday nearly stabbed Ferrell with the paint can lid remover just prior to Ferrell stabbing Holliday.

Ferrell allegedly told a police officer a short time later, “I can’t believe I stabbed him.”