Motion to suppress statement withdrawn in homicide case

YOUNGSTOWN — Defense attorneys today withdrew a motion asking Judge R Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to suppress statements their client made to police the day after a store owner he is accused of killing in a robbery attempt.

Atty. Tom Zena said he was withdrawing the motion for Larry McDonald, 29, of Truman Avenue, because prosecutors will not be using it in trial.

McDonald is accused in the death of Abdullah Nagi Mahdi, 29, who was killed Nov. 19 inside the Reemas Fashion store Mahdi owned on South Avenue.

Lawyers also argued over trying counts of aggravated robbery against McDonald for a Nov. 18 robbery of a Belmont Avenue store Mahdi owned separately from the counts McDonald faces for the Nov. 19 shooting.

Judge Krichbaum said he hopes to have a ruling on that motion later today.