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Murder trial evidence ‘was overwhelming,’ prosecutor argues
YOUNGSTOWN
The fact that two separate juries, both hearing largely the same evidence in a murder case, reached opposite verdicts regarding two defendants in separate trials two weeks apart loomed large in arguments before the 7th District Court of Appeals.
Earlier this week, a three-judge panel heard the appeal of Dreon A. Williams, who was convicted in the Aug. 6, 2010, murder of Anthony Harrison and attempted murder of Eric VanCobb.
Just before Williams was convicted, his brother, Dionte Robinson, was acquitted of identical charges in the same shooting at 13th Street and Tremble Avenue in Campbell.
Harrison and VanCobb were confronted as they walked home from a church festival and shot as they ran from the gunfire, with police saying robbery was the likely motive.
“The evidence was overwhelming,” Ralph M. Rivera, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, told the panel. “The jury missed it” in Robinson’s trial, he added.
If, as Rivera said, one jury lost its way, the other might also have lost its way, countered Williams’ lawyer, John J. Dixon.
Judge Cheryl L. Waite said, however, the Williams trial contained an additional piece of evidence, namely a confession by Williams to a jail inmate, who testified in Williams’ trial.
“Your client can be linked to the DNA on the gun that apparently killed the victim. Your client’s brother’s DNA is not linked to that gun,” Judge Waite added.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Williams to 31 years to life in prison.
Judge Krichbaum consecutively imposed the 15 years-to-life murder sentence and the 10-year attempted-murder sentence and the two three-year firearm specification sentences.
Dixon argued that Judge Krichbaum erred by imposing the sentences consecutively because Dixon said the evidence showed Williams could only have shot one of the two victims.
Besides Judge Waite, the panel hearing Williams’ appeal consisted of Judges Joseph J. Vukovich and Mary DeGenaro.
The panel will issue its decision at a later date.