Testimony under way in Jamelle Jackson murder trial in Akron

AKRON — It has been nearly two years and a change to a new county, but the murder trial of a second man accused of killing a Youngstown State University senior at an off-campus party in early 2011 is under way.

Jamelle Jackson, charged with 10 counts of felonious assault, shooting into a habitation and murder in the shooting of Jamail Johnson and 10 other people at a fraternity party, appeared before Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for the start of his trial, but Jackson, his attorneys, prosecutors, court reporters, witnesses, the bailiff, and the judge were seated in a Summit County courtroom far from the county courthouse here.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and the court weeks ago agreed on a change of venue in the case because of its popularity in and around Mahoning County. The idea was that moving the trial to Summit County would allow for the quick selection of a fair and impartial jury.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys selected a jury of nine women and three men within one day of jury selection. Attorneys then went into opening statements and allowed jurors to hear the dozen frantic calls made to the city’s 911 center the night of the shooting.

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