Martin capital murder case postponed to April

WARREN

The trial for David Martin, 29, charged with killing Jeremy Cole, 21, and attempting to kill Melissa Putnam, 29, Sept. 27, 2012, has been rescheduled from Jan. 22 to April 9.

Attorneys for Martin, of Cleveland, asked Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court this week for more time to prepare for the mitigation phase of his trial, in the event that he is convicted of aggravated murder and other charges.

If he is convicted, a jury will be asked to decide whether to give Martin the death penalty.

Martin is accused of entering Putnam’s house on Oak Street Southwest, ordering her to tie up Cole and give him the keys to Cole’s car, then shooting Cole, who lived on Robert Avenue Northwest in Warren.

Martin recently was sentenced in federal court to nearly 22 years in prison for selling a firearm to undercover investigators. The sentence was elevated because Martin previously was convicted of three violent felonies.