Jurors to deliberate

Jurors to deliberate

YOUNGSTOWN

Jurors in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court are expected to begin deliberating today the fate of the former executive director of the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership, who faces three corruption charges.

The jury was chosen Monday to hear the case against 50-year-old Richard Roller of Colonial Drive in Liberty, who was charged in 2010 with unlawful interest in a public contract, theft in office, grand theft and soliciting or receiving improper compensation.

Roller is accused of using deception to obtain benefits from the state and also using his influence to help his brother secure a public contract.

A visiting judge is hearing the case. A court spokeswoman said attorneys in the case delivered closing arguments in the case late Tuesday afternoon.

Filing seeks chance to ask for new trial

WARREN

Visiting Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove of Summit County had a conference call Tuesday with three attorneys involved in a filing in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court that asks for killer Danny Lee Hill to get a chance to ask for a new trial.

Judge Cosgrove told the attorneys, including Sarah Kostick and an attorney with the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office, she will review the 400-page motion. Kostick’s motion seeks a new trial or the chance to ask for one because the National Academy of Sciences believes bite-mark evidence, such as that used at Hill’s 1985 trial, cannot be validated scientifically.

Hill and Timothy Combs were convicted of raping, torturing and killing Raymond Fife, 12, in 1985.

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