Judge: Defendant's statement can be used at his trial

YOUNGSTOWN — A statement made to police by a suspect in a homicide stemming from an alleged theft of electricity is admissible in his trial, a judge ruled.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court made the ruling today in the case of Michael Paige, 20, of Bennington Avenue, who is charged with aggravated murder in the March 1 shooting death of 31-year-old Munir Blake.

Paige testified in a hearing on his motion to exclude the statement from evidence that he received failing scores on his eighth-grade report card and never finished ninth grade.

Judge Sweeney, however, concluded police properly warned Paige of his right to remain silent before interviewing him, and that Paige “knowingly and voluntarily waived his constitutional rights.”

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com