Murder charges dropped in 2 cases

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judges have dismissed cases against two men charged in murders.

The dismissals were requested by assistant county prosecutors, who said they lacked sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.

On Thursday, Judge Maureen A. Sweeney dismissed a complicity to murder charge against Johnathan Dent, 17, of Lucius Avenue, in the July 8, 2007, shooting death of William Burr outside a South Avenue pizza shop. Dent had been bound over for trial as an adult.

Robert E. Bush Jr., chief of the criminal division of the prosecutor’s office, sought the dismissal after a jury acquitted the alleged gunman, Dion Weatherspoon, 20, of Hilton Avenue, of aggravated murder and of the lesser included offense of murder in Burr’s death.

Also Thursday, Judge Lou A. D’Apolito dismissed a murder charge against Dominique Lucky, 19, of Gordon Avenue, Campbell, in the Feb. 22, 2008, death of Diana Noble, 39, who was shot near the Kirwan Homes in Campbell, and drove herself to her Howland home, where she died.

Tyrell Ravnell, 18, of Halleck Street, Youngstown, who the prosecution alleges fatally shot Noble, remains set for a May 18 jury trial.