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Testimony on killing scene brings tears
YOUNGSTOWN
Friday proved to be an emotional day of testimony in the Melvin Shaw murder trial as the only surviving victim told jurors and the court what took place moments before his 17-year-old friend was murdered.
Melvin S. Shaw II, 20, of Idlewood Avenue, is charged with the aggravated murder of Tracee Banks, 17, and the attempted murder of Jamel Turner, 18, of Youngstown. Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court is presiding over the trial.
It has been nearly two years since Turner was shot in the face and leg, but he still showed jurors scars where those bullets had to be removed from his body. His testimony Friday brought members of the audience and at least one member of the jury to tears.
Turner told jurors he met Banks several years earlier at a church function, and the two remained close friends. Turner, who attends college out of state, said he had returned home shortly before the June 19, 2010, shooting and wanted to see Banks.
Turner said he was dropped off at the Manchester Avenue home where Banks was babysitting sometime after 11 p.m., and the teens watched television until Banks received a phone call from Shaw. She excused herself and talked to Shaw for about five minutes.
According to Turner, Shaw called a second time, followed by a text message. A short time after the text message, Banks and Turner looked outside a window to see a person who Turner claims was Shaw walking toward the front door.
Turner told the court there was no knock on the door, no ringing of a doorbell, only the sound of gunfire and bullets coming through the front door.
Turner said he was immediately shot in the face, then shot in the leg. Banks, he said, tried to run across the room, but collapsed after being hit by several bullets. Turner said he tried to call out to the girl but had trouble speaking. He recalled what were reportedly the teen’s last words.
“I can’t feel...,” Turner said the teen mumbled, but he could not make out the last word she spoke.
Turner said he crawled to Banks and tried to shake the dying girl but got no response. He called his twin brother on the phone and then dialed 911 for help.
In addition to the tears in the courtroom caused by the vivid testimony, Tracee Hewlett, Banks’ mother, became overwhelmed and was temporarily helped from the courtroom.
Shaw did not show any emotion or look at spectators.
Atty. Thomas Zena, representing Shaw, questioned Turner on the photo identification he made of Shaw after the shooting. Turner reviewed the photos three times before saying the photo of Shaw “could be” the shooter.
Turner, under cross examination, also admitted he had been shot just days prior to the June 19, 2010, shooting when out with his brother. Zena questioned why Turner called his brother after the shooting before dialing 911.
Zena asked the court to grant a mistrial because Judge Evans allowed Turner to testify as to what Banks said to him moments before the shooting. He also said a mistrial should be granted because text messages in Banks’ phone, an integral part of the case, had been erased while the phone was in police custody.
Judge Evans refused to grant a mistrial.