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WARREN -- A number of pretrial motions were heard this week in the capital murder case of a man accused of killing one 34-year-old man and the attempted murder of a 23-year-old-man.
Several family and friends of the victim watched inside the courtroom as Robin Kashaun Williams, 29, stood between his defense attorneys and prosecutors as both sides went over about 10 motions with Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald J. Rice.
Williams was indicted in a special Trumbull County grand jury report charging him with two counts of aggravated murder; and one count each of attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, having weapons while under disability, receiving stolen property and assault on a peace officer. The first six charges carry specifications of aggravating circumstances, repeat violent offender and committing the crime using a firearm.
Police identified Williams as the suspect who they say killed 34-year-old James Chapman in the 600 block of Lener Ave. SW on April 2. A woman with a gunshot wound also was taken to the hospital with injuries.
The aggravating circumstances carry the death-penalty level punishment because two or more people were targeted and other felonies were committed in the act of the aggravated murder, according to court officials.
Williams is a repeat violent offender, according to court records, because he was convicted twice of felonious assault -- once in 2017 and again in 2019 -- in Trumbull County. He also was prosecuted on an aggravated robbery as a juvenile.
With a trial date approaching July 17, the defense, consisting of attorneys Thomas E. Zena and Anthony P. Meranto, filed motions covering several requests but most importantly focused on gathering all of the evidence that the state will collect to prepare their defense.
Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said he provided the defense an informal discovery at a hearing on April 25.
At the hearing Tuesday, Becker said he had formalized the discovery and provided additional information, with more pending following testing on DNA being done by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He assured the defense he'd share discovery evidence as he gets it.
Becker said that today he would work toward fast tracking DNA and ballistics test results.
"There's also some medical records of a victim that I have to go to the hospital to get, so I do not have that yet but I will supplement that as soon as I do," Becker said.
"I've mentioned to him (Williams) today that I think it wouldn't be a wise thing to do to force us to trial sooner rather than later with the number of issues, the number of constitutional issues and the number of statements," Meranto said.
Another motion discussed was a request for a bill of particulars. The defense requested a list of witnesses that Becker said he formally had filed that day with the clerk of courts office.
The next request from the defense was for disclosure of exculpatory and impeachment evidence as per the Brady Rule established in Brady v. Maryland in 1963, the law requires the prosecution to disclose any and all evidence that could potentially exonerate the defandant, in this case Williams.
But, Becker assured there was nothing to provide from the state. Becker offered to sit down with Meranto and Zena to discuss any evidence in the prosecutor's file if they felt there was anything exculpatory.
Becker stated that often times, investigators speak to additional witnesses or gather additional information. Every three to four weeks Becker said he updates the investigators' notes to then provide to the defense.
Meranto said, "That's just to maintain the integrity of the process to make sure that we compel a prosecutor to exhaust all their efforts with regarding police reports."
The next hearing will take place June 6 at 1:30 p.m.