Oakhill defendants to be in court Friday for final pre-trial hearing

CLEVELAND

Prosecutors and the defense in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal-corruption case will be in court Friday for a final hearing before the Monday start of the trial.

The two sides will discuss numerous motions filed by defense attorneys seeking to have the case dismissed or at least evidence excluded and the testimony of some witnesses restricted.

Judge Janet R. Burnside of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who is overseeing the trial, is expected to rule today on the numerous filings by the defense and responses from prosecutors.

Also, the attorneys for two of the three defendants – Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally and ex-Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino, both Democrats – filed a third and likely final witness list.

The original list, filed Nov. 30, 2015, had 68 witnesses. It grew to 71 in a Feb. 12 filing and is now at 59 witnesses.

McNally is on the witness list, while Sciortino is not.

Read who's on the list and other motions in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.