Jurors to see where body was found

The prosecution alleges the woman was raped in South Side Park before being taken to McKelvey Lake.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Jurors in the capital murder trial of Antonio Jackson will visit the lake where the body of Sierra Y. Slaton was found and hear opening statements this morning from prosecuting and defense lawyers.

Jackson, 28, of Summer Street, is charged with the aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and rape of Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road.

Selection of 12 jurors and two alternates was completed Tuesday for the trial, which is before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The prosecution alleges Slaton was raped in South Side Park before being taken to McKelvey Lake, where she was shot 10 times in the head, once in the torso and twice in the right leg about 3:13 a.m., Aug. 6, 2005, and thrown in the water.

The jurors will visit the lake, where Slaton’s body was found floating on the day after her death.

The county coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide and said she died of perforation of the brain due to multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

Prosecuting the case are Dawn Cantalamessa and Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant county prosecutors. The defense lawyers are John B. Juhasz and Lynn Maro.

If the jury convicts Jackson of any of the death-penalty specifications, the same jurors will return at a later date to hear testimony concerning what penalty should be imposed and to recommend a life or death sentence.

A co-defendant, Antwon Lanier, 25, of Mahoning County Jail, is charged with committing the same crimes against Slaton as Jackson. Lanier’s capital jury trial is to begin May 4 before Judge Durkin.

The death-penalty specifications say Slaton was killed while the other crimes were being committed against her and as part of a pattern of conduct in which two or more people were killed.

Later this year, Jackson will face his second capital jury trial before Judge Durkin in the Nov. 20, 2005, drowning death of another woman, Tahnee Jackson, (no relation), 29, of Cassius Street.