Stabbing case suppression hearing

By Joe Gorman | October 9, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

An attorney for a man charged with attempted murder for a stabbing last year in Boardman is trying to get his client’s statements to police thrown out.

A suppression hearing took place Wednesday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for 24-year-old Patrick Howard of Cambridge Avenue, who also faces two counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated robbery in the March 29, 2013, stabbing of 25-year-old Jessica Helpy at her South Avenue apartment.

Reports said Helpy was stabbed several times.

Police Lt. Ed McConnell and Detective Glenn Patton both testified they read Howard his rights, as did another officer, and that Howard said he understood his rights.

McConnell saw Howard shortly after the stabbing at Lake Park Road and Midlothian Boulevard, and Howard tried to run away, but McConnell testified he cut him off with his cruiser and held him at gunpoint until other officers arrived.

He said he read Howard his rights and he appeared to understand them.

Defense lawyer John B. Juhasz asked McConnell if he could tell if Howard comprehended what kinds of protections he was losing if he waived his rights. McConnell said when he read Howard his rights he also went over a section that said if Howard talked about anything it could be used against him.

Judge Krichbaum will rule later on the defense motion to suppress the statements.