Murder trial for two postponed to September

Murder trial for two postponed to September

YOUNGSTOWN

The murder trial for two men charged in a 2009 double murder was set to begin this week, but has been postponed until September after defense attorneys claim they did not receive information that could clear their clients.

Joseph Moreland, 28, whose address is listed as the county jail, and Kenneth Moncrief, 26, of Fairgreen Avenue, were set for trial before Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in the murders of Jaron L. Roland, 20, of Fairmont Avenue, and Darry B. Woods-Burt Jr., 19, of the city’s North Side. Attorneys Lou DeFabio and Thomas Zena, representing the two men, however, want more information from prosecutors and a possible dismissal of the charges.

DeFabio told the court a key witness in the case made statements to police in 2010 about Moreland, then later told prosecutors those statements were not true. He said prosecutors have not divulged exactly what was said by the witness.

Dawn Cantalamessa, an assistant county prosecutor, said the witness did not divulge information that would exonerate the two men, but merely changed his statement as to Moreland’s role in the murders. She said DeFabio and Zena have had ample time to question the witness about the statements.

Defense attorneys have asked the court to rule that the statements should have been turned over to them. They are asking for sanctions, including a dismissal of the charges, because of their claim that the statement was not turned over.

Judge Sweeney has given both sides seven days to provide the court briefs on the matter. She will rule on the motions at a later date.

For more on this story see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.