Appellate court hears arguments for new trial for convicted killer

YOUNGSTOWN — Whether the confessions of Michael A. Davis to setting the East Side house fire that killed six people on Jan. 23, 2008, should have been admitted as evidence in his trial was a key issue in oral arguments this morning in his appeal.

Davis is appealing at the 7th District Court of Appeals his conviction and the 310-year prison sentence he received from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Davis’ lawyer, John P. Laczko, who seeks a new trial for Davis, argued before the three-judge panel that the confessions should have been excluded because they stemmed from Davis’ being illegally arrested at his residence without a warrant or probable cause.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com