Curtis Young capital murder trial begins

YOUNGSTOWN — Opening statements are underway in the capital murder trial of Curtis Young, 26, of North Center Street.

A nine-woman, three-man jury and three alternates will begin hearing testimony from prosecution witnesses this morning in the trial, which is before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Young is charged with aggravated murder with firearm and death penalty specifications in the July 31, 2007, shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Helen Moore, 29, of Cassius Street, her full-term fetus, and her 8-year-old son, Ceonei.

The case is being prosecuted by Martin P. Desmond and Robert J. Andrews, assistant county prosecutors. Thomas E. Zena and Douglas B. Taylor are the defense lawyers.

Desmond said Young purposely killed Moore and the others. In the argument that preceded the shooting, Desmond quoted Young saying to Moore, “I’m going to shoot you and your damned kids.” The prosecution said jurors would hear witness testimony concerning that statement.

The prosecutor alleged Young made a cell phone call and told someone to get his gun.

“This baby was viable and he would have lived had his mother not been killed,” Desmond said.

The defense lawyer, Taylor, maintains Young fired in self defense. “When Curtis pulled that trigger, he was in fear for his life.”

Taylor said Young fired because he feared Moore would run him over in the street with the car she was driving.