Murder trial to go forward in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court

YOUNGSTOWN — A murder trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court is going forward after prosecutors and defense attorneys could not work out a plea bargain.

Judge Lou D’Apolito had the two sides get together one last time today after he ruled in favor of a prosecution motion to allow a statement in the case by a dead co-defendant, but the gap between recommended sentences for Kalontae Carter, 19, was too great, so jury selection began.

Carter is accused of taking part in an April 2013 robbery on Elm Street in which Kristopher Stuart, 26, was killed.

Carter and another man, Dejuan Thomas, were indicted twice in the death of Stuart, who was found about 10:30 p.m. April 29, 2013, dead in his Elm Street home with a revolver next to him. Both Carter and Thomas were wounded during the shooting.

The charges were dismissed in July 2014 and refiled in October 2014.

Carter faces charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and aggravated robbery, all with a firearm specification.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com