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Capital murder jury sequestered
YOUNGSTOWN
The jury in the capital murder trial of Willie Wilks will resume deliberations this morning.
The jury heard closing arguments from prosecuting and defense lawyers and final instructions from Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and began deliberating late Monday afternoon. They were sequestered Monday night in a local hotel.
Wilks, 42, of Elm Street, is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Ororo Wilkins, 20, and felonious assault and attempted aggravated murder in the shooting of Alex Morales, 25. Both were shot on the porch of a Park Avenue residence May 21, 2013.
Wilks faces another charge of attempted aggravated murder for purportedly firing a shot at Wilkins’ brother, Willie Wilkins, who was upstairs in the home when police say Wilks appeared with an AK-47 assault rifle. That shot missed Willie Wilkins.
Wilks faces the death penalty because he is accused of killing one person while trying to kill two or more people.
If the jury convicts Wilks of the death-penalty specification, a second phase of the trial will occur, in which defense attorneys will present evidence to jurors as to why they should spare Wilks’ life.
In another murder case, a jury was to view the alleged crime scene and hear opening statements this morning in the trial of Lamar Reese in the Sept. 16, 2011, shooting death of Josh Davis, 17, of Willis Avenue.
Reese, 21, of Worthington Street, is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in Davis’ death during an alleged Willis Avenue marijuana deal.
Reese’s trial is before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Frankie Hudson, 21, of Falls Avenue, will go on trial on the same charges in this case in June.