Death-penalty trial nears

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Courthouse is scheduled for its third capital murder trial in less than four months.

The death-penalty jury trial of Antonio Jackson is to begin Jan. 12 before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Jackson, 28, of Summer Street, will go on trial for the Aug. 6, 2005, aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and rape of Sierra Y. Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road.

A co-defendant, Antwon Lanier, 25, of Mahoning County Jail, is charged with committing the same crimes against Slaton. Lanier’s capital jury trial is to begin March 2 before Judge Durkin.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com