YOUNGSTOWN An aggravated murder trial that might hinge on an unusual type of identification of the suspect won’t go forward Monday, after defense attorneys cried foul last week.
Attorneys David Betras and Patrick Kirally filed a motion in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court asking that the trial of Lavontae E. Knight be postponed or certain evidence be tossed because they were not given evidence in the state’s possession favorable to the defense until April 30 10 days before the trial was supposed to begin.
The evidence is related to a photo lineup police showed to a witness in the case.
Brian Donlow Jr. looks into a law book during a break in his aggravated murder trial. In the background is attorney J.P. Laczko, standby attorney appointed for Donlow, who is representing himself. Laczko is there to take over Donlowâs defense if Donlow requests it.
Staff photo / Ed Runyan
YOUNGSTOWN In an aggravated murder trial full of unusual circumstances, another unusual thing happened Tuesday after prosecutors and defendant Brian Donlow Jr. gave opening statements and heard from a couple of witnesses.
Donlow, 26, is serving as his own lawyer even though he has no experience. He also decided to have Judge Anthony D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court decide his case without a jury, which is unusual. Donlow has a standby attorney ready to step in and take over if Donlow decides he needs that.
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YOUNGSTOWN The judge in the Kimonie Bryant aggravated murder case said Tuesday he will sign a “gag order” to be jointly filed by the prosecution and defense, ordering that parties in the case not talk about the Rowan Sweeney murder outside of court.
Bryant, 24, is charged with killing 4-year-old Rowan and shooting four adults in a home on Perry Street in Struthers on Sept. 21, 2020.
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa told Judge Anthony D’Apolito that prosecutors noticed “promotional things we saw on the TV yesterday and today,” causing them to seek a gag order. She said prosecutors and defense attorneys expect to submit a proposed order this week.