Trial to begin for NE Ohio man charged in beating, raping, strangling, killing of woman

ERIE, Pa.

Jury selection is slated to begin Monday in the trial of a Northeast Ohio man charged in the rape and murder of a woman 5 1/2 years ago.

Thirty-two-year-old Jeffrey Norris of Painesville, Ohio, is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Authorities said DNA evidence linked Norris to the November 2005 death of Mindy Acosta, who was beaten, smothered, raped and strangled in an Erie park.

Defense attorney John Moore has said the evidence only indicates that Norris had sexual contact with Acosta, not that he had killed her. The Erie Times-News says the defense is also pointing to a condom found with the body that had another man’s DNA on it.