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Kerr gets life with no parole for South Side murder
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Lenzie Morgan’s family may have been forgiving Monday toward the man who was convicted of killing him.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum was not.
The judge cited testimony in the trial of Paul Kerr, 48, last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, before he was convicted of aggravated murder, in which witnesses said Kerr was homeless and down on his luck but Morgan, an old friend, took him in, only to kick him out because he thought Kerr was involved with his life.
“He tried to help you, and you took advantage of him,” Judge Krichbaum said. “I can’t imagine something more heinous, more disgusting, more revolting, than what you did.”
Kerr was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for the murder of Morgan, 48, who died Oct. 15 after being shot in the head Sept. 30 at his home in the 2000 block of Shady Run Road.
A jury convicted Kerr on Friday after deliberating over parts of three days, which was longer than the trial, which lasted parts of two days.
The Rev. Edward Flanagan, Morgan’s brother, thanked the judge and the jury for justice. He said he wanted people to know his brother was a good man and always willing to help someone who is down on his luck.
“If he could come back, he would do it again [help Kerr],” Flanagan said.
Pastor Flanagan said he misses his brother and his death has been an ordeal, but he said he forgives Kerr.
Lovie Benson, a sister of Morgan’s, said she forgives Kerr also but said she worries Kerr could hurt others if he ever gets out of prison.
“If he’s free, he’ll do it to someone else,” Benson said.
Benson also said she was bothered by what she thinks is a lack of remorse on the part of Kerr.
Kerr and his attorneys did not comment to the judge because they are planning to appeal Kerr’s conviction.
Assistant Prosecutor Natasha Frenchko, who asked for life with no parole, read Kerr’s prior criminal record to the judge, which includes arrests and convictions on drug and theft and assault charges. Judge Krichbaum said that record was a main reason he decided to sentence Kerr with no possibility of parole.
“There’s no hope for you,” Judge Krichbaum said. “You guys never cease to amaze.”
Kerr also was found guilty by Judge Krichbaum of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a firearm specification on the aggravated-murder charge.