Jurors deliberating Melvin Shaw’s fate

Jurors deliberating Melvin Shaw’s fate

Jurors are now deliberating in the murder case of Melvin Shaw, who is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, improperly discharging a firearm and two counts of felonious assault in the murder of Tracee Banks, 17, and wounding of Jamel Turner.

Jurors heard testimony from Turner, police and the coroner last week. Dawn Cantalamessa, an assistant county prosecutor, and Atty. Thomas Zena offered closing statements to the jury this morning.

Cantalamessa contends that Shaw went to a West Side home in June of 2010 and shot both Banks and Turner in a bout of anger or jealousy.

“June 19, 2010, what a nightmare for both Tracee Banks and Jamel Turner. Melvin Shaw caused that nightmare. He knew exactly what he was doing,” she said.

Zena asked jurors to consider only those facts that would help decide the case, ignoring emotional things such as pictures that do not lend to the weight of the evidence.

“Don’t close your minds. Don’t not listen to me,” he said. “Think about everything we talk about today.”

For more on this story see Tuesday Vindicator and Vindy.com