Testimony today in two Mahoning County death penalty cases

YOUNGSTOWN — Testimony will be heard this morning in two separate capital murder trials in the Mahoning County Courthouse — those of Curtis Young and Antwon Lanier.

The penalty determination phase is underway today in Young’s triple murder trial.

Young, 26, of North Center Street, was convicted this month 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.

The nine-woman, three-man jury that convicted Young as charged on all aggravated murder counts and all firearm and death penalty specifications earlier this month has returned today to hear testimony about Young’s family, educational and social background.

After the jurors hear that testimony, they’ll deliberate and recommend whether Young should serve 25 years to life in prison, 30 to life, or life without parole, or receive the death penalty.

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

Also this morning, opening statements are being made by prosecuting and defense lawyers in the capital murder trial of Antwon Lanier, 25, of Mahoning County jail, who is charged with the aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and rape of Sierra Y. Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road.

Slaton’s body was found floating in McKelvey Lake on Aug. 7, 2005, which was the day after she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

This jury trial is before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The prosecution alleges that Lanier’s co-defendant, Antonio Jackson, 28, of Summer Street, who is charged with the same crimes, fatally shot Slaton before dumping her body in the lake. Jackson’s trial is to begin Oct. 16.