7th District court denies appeal in Brown death penalty case

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Mark Aaron Brown

YOUNGSTOWN — Barring action by another court, the execution of convicted murderer Mark Aaron Brown can go forward as scheduled Thursday.

The 7th District Court of Appeals here has denied Brown’s request for a new trial.

The three-judge panel’s ruling was announced around 8 p.m. Tuesday after a hearing earlier in the day. The hearing was on Brown’s appeal of a decision out of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court also denying his request for another trial.

The appellate court’s decision was written by Judge Cheryl L. Waite, with Judges Gene Donofrio and Mary DeGenaro concurring.

The judges overruled all four assignments of error argued by the defense.

Even before the decision was announced, a sister of the convenience-store owner Brown was convicted of killing 16 years ago, and an assistant county prosecutor said they thought there should be no further delay in Brown’s execution.

“He walked in there, and he killed two innocent lives, and he should pay for that,” said Terri Rasul of Youngstown, sister of Isam Salman, the slain owner of Midway Market on Elm Street. “He has no remorse whatsoever,” she added.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.