Court discussion centers on public access to Larosa case

WARREN

Attorneys for Jacob Larosa, the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office and The Vindicator attended a hearing in Trumbull County Juvenile Court this morning to discuss whether documents filed in Larosa's aggravated murder proceedings will be open to the public, but no decision was rendered.

In fact, Judge Pamela Rintala noted that defense attorney Rob Kokor has asked that Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood handle the question instead of her, and that decision must be made first before the public records question can be answered. Judge Stabile Harwood is assigned to the criminal case; Judge Rintala intended to handle the records matter.

Judge Rintala said the parties will communicate next week on which judge will handle the records matter and determine whether a hearing will be held to hear witnesses on the open-records matter or whether it can be handled with written briefs.

Kokor filed a motion with the juvenile court asking that the complaint filed by the Trumbull County prosecutor's office and other filings be kept closed to the public. The prosecutor's office filed an answer, saying the documents should remain open.

Larosa, 15, of Niles, is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and attempted rape in the death of Marie Belcastro, 94. Belcastro was found beaten to death in her Cherry Street home March 31. Larosa was found in his home nearby just before Belcastro's body was found, and Larosa was bloody and injured, police said.