Top court overturns death sentence for killer of 3 in 1996

COLUMBUS — In a 4-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court has vacated the death sentence of a Youngstown man convicted of the murders of three people and attempted murders of two others during the 1996 Newport Inn robbery on Youngstown’s South Side.

Lawyers for Willie Herring were deficient because they did not complete a thorough and adequate investigation into Herring’s background to determine which mitigating factors to present to the jury during the penalty phase of his trial, Justice Paul E. Pfeifer wrote in the court’s decision today.

The top court’s decision affirms the judgment of the Youngstown-based 7th District Court of Appeals.

The top court’s ruling means the case will return to the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas for a new sentencing hearing with a new jury, which will decide whether he should get the death penalty or a life sentence.

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