Trial’s penalty phase delayed for report

Jurors will mull life-in- prison options or death.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The penalty phase of the capital murder trial of Curtis Young has been postponed to 9 a.m. Monday to await completion of a report from an expert witness for the defense.

Prosecution and defense lawyers, Young and Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court signed a judgment entry Tuesday, in which they agreed that the bailiff would telephone the jurors, inform them of the postponement and tell them they must not speculate as to the reason for the delay.

The penalty phase, in which jurors will hear testimony as to whether Young should receive a death sentence or a life prison term, was initially set to begin today.

Last Friday, the same nine-woman, three-man jury found Young guilty as charged on all counts of aggravated murder and all firearm and death-penalty specifications.

Young, 26, of North Center Street, was convicted in the July 31, 2007, shooting deaths of Helen Moore, 29, of Cassius Street, who was his ex-girlfriend, her nearly full-term fetus, and her 8-year-old son, Ceonei.

After they hear testimony in the penalty phase, the jurors will recommend 25 years to life in prison, 30-to-life, life without parole, or death.

The sentence will then be up to the judge, but the judge can’t impose a death sentence if the jurors recommend life.

The jurors will be sequestered in a hotel during any overnight breaks in their deliberations.