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Prosecutors say they have jail calls to use at Hamad trial
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Despite filings by attorneys for murder defendant Nasser Hamad emphasizing the need to protect him from damaging statements while locked up in the county jail, prosecutors apparently have damaging recordings of him talking on the telephone.
A motion filed by one of Hamad’s attorneys several months ago sought to restrain jail personnel, deputies and other “agents for the state” from talking to Hamad about the facts of his case to protect him from statements, possibly taken out of context, that could be used against him.
But prosecutors filed a document in the case Wednesday telling defense attorneys they have evidence consisting of “translations of jail calls,” presumably involving Hamad.
Attorneys in the case are prohibited from explaining what the calls are about, but calls inmates make at the jail are recorded and have been used as evidence in other trials.
Jury selection in Hamad’s aggravated-murder trial begins Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, according to the online court docket. Jury selection will take about a week. Testimony is likely to begin the following week and last several weeks.
Hamad, 48, of Howland, could get the death penalty if convicted of some of the charges he faces – two counts of aggravated murder and several counts of attempted murder.
The case involves a monthslong dispute between Hamad and members of his girlfriend’s family that resulted in a fight and shootings Feb. 25 in front of Hamad’s house on state Route 46.
Hamad is accused of killing Joshua Williams, 20, and Josh Haber, 19, and injuring April Trent Vokes, 43, John Shively, 17, and Bryce Hendrickson.
A court document says Facebook messages were “threats made by both parties.”
Police said Bryce Hendrickson, Shively and the three others went to Hamad’s house, resulting in a fistfight between Hamad and Shively. When the fight ended, Hamad went into his house and got a handgun as the five returned to their van. Hamad then came out and fired at the five, police said. Hamad also went back into the house one time, reloaded and came out firing again, police said.
Hamad has claimed self-defense, but prosecutors say Ohio law required him to retreat.
Hendrickson was one of two people found unresponsive Saturday at a house on West 2nd Street in McDonald and pronounced dead. A coroner’s ruling is pending.