43
Trial to begin for suspected murderer
YOUNGSTOWN
The murder trial for the man accused of killing of a Youngstown teen nearly four years ago will continue today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys began the jury- selection process early Wednesday for Paul Brown, 35, of Falls Avenue. The jury-selection process is expected to continue today.
Brown’s trial is taking place in the courtroom of Judge Maureen Sweeney.
Brown had been set for trial in January 2012, and a jury was seated to hear the case, but Judge Sweeney declared a mistrial at that time because she determined Youngstown police had not supplied needed evidence to the prosecution and defense.
Brown is on trial for the May 2009 murder of 17-year-old Ashten Jackson. The teen’s body was found on the East Side by a search party organized by his mother, April Jackson, after he had been missing for several days.
April Jackson told The Vindicator in 2010 that her son left home with her former boyfriend, Paul Brown, and was not heard from again.
By May 27, police were searching for the missing teen. After receiving an anonymous call that her son was murdered and left on the East Side, April Jackson began sending text messages and looking on the Internet for volunteers to help search for her son.
The search party found the body of Ashten Jackson in an East Side field.
Police charged Brown with the crime, and a Mahoning County grand jury indicted him on the murder charge in early 2009. Brown was scheduled to appear for arraignment in November 2009 but failed to appear for the hearing. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Brown ultimately was found to be at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Fla. An order issued by the Court called for delivery back to Mahoning County.
He has been in the Mahoning County jail awaiting trial.