Jurors deliberate life or death for Curtis Young

YOUNGSTOWN — Jurors began deliberating at 4:50 p.m. today whether Curtis Young gets life in prison or the death penalty for a July 31, 2007, triple murder.

If their deliberations don’t result in a verdict on the penalty today, the jurors will be sequestered overnight in a hotel pending resumption of deliberations Tuesday morning.

The same nine-woman, three-man jury convicted Young earlier this month in the 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.

Young was convicted of all aggravated murder counts and all firearm and death penalty specifications.

Jurors may recommend one of the following penalties: 25 years to life in prison, 30 to life; life without parole; or death.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court will then decide the sentence, but she cannot impose death if the jurors recommend life.