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Defense lawyer disputes details in kidnapping
Defense lawyer disputes details in kidnapping
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
The prosecution and defense laid out details in the case against a city man accused of kidnapping and terrorizing his former girlfriend.
Hester Howell Jr., 40, is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and domestic violence after a July 2008 incident involving his then-girlfriend.
He faces more than 30 years in prison if convicted and sentenced to the maximum time on each charge.
Natasha Frenchko, an assistant county prosecutor, and Atty. Jeff Limbian, representing Howell, presented their opening statements to jurors Tuesday afternoon.
“The evidence will show that the defendant, Hester Howell, is a violent, dangerous individual,” Frenchko said.
Frenchko said Howell held the 41-year-old woman against her will in a Glenwood Avenue home for hours, threatening her with a machete and gun, then beating her until she was able to escape in the middle of the night.
Frenchko said the woman had been dating Howell for seven months and had been to the home several times before the attack but was not expecting the violence she encountered that night.
Frenchko said the victim was found walking along Glenwood bloody and naked by two woman driving up the street. Frenchko said police found the machete, gun and bulletproof vest inside the house.
Limbian told the jurors the truth in the case will be found in the details — or lack thereof.
Limbian agrees that Howell and the woman were in the house that night. He said, however, the woman has offered varying accounts of what took place. He said she is unclear on details that matter.
“Do not let the prosecution broad-brush this and paint over significant details,” he said.
Limbian said one significant detail is the fact the victim had possession of the gun in the house during some of the time she reportedly was held captive. He also said Howell is not the owner of the house, but prosecutors assume the items in the house belong to him.
Limbian also told the jurors the police did not adequately investigate the situation.