Prosecution has evidence Austin, Henderson planned to disrupt trial, prosecutor says after outburst

YOUNGSTOWN

Typically, it’s attorneys who make statements during closing arguments, but today, one of two men on trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on four counts of aggravated murder and other charges decided to make his own.

Just after jurors were brought into the courtroom and arguments were to begin, Michael Austin, 22, stood up and said he did not think he received a fair trial.

As deputies moved toward him to make him sit down, Judge John M. Durkin excused jurors from the courtroom, then warned Austin, his co-defendant Hakeem Henderson, 24, and any others in the gallery at the heavily attended trial that any outbursts will ensure a swift ticket out of the courtroom. In the case of the defendants, they would be given a television to watch the proceedings, the judge said.

Assistant Prosecutor Martin Desmond asked that both defendants be barred from the courtroom, saying there is evidence, including calls recorded at the jail, showing that the pair planned something to interrupt the trial, but the judge denied his request.

Jurors received the case to deliberate at about 2:10 p.m.

Read more about today's proceedings and the case in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.