07-27-2012, 04:14 PM
(07-27-2012, 04:08 PM)Older Than Dirt Wrote: http://www.13abc.com/story/19130169/samu...g-burglary
13ABC
Friday morning a jury found Samuel Williams guilty in the murders of Lisa Straub and Johnny Clarke. It was a murder that shocked the Springfield Township Community. A young couple found in a home bound with bags over their heads.
There was heavy court security as the jury walked into the courtroom, Lisa Straub's parents and sister were seated in the front row of the gallery. Johnny Clarke's parents were not there.
As everyone waited to hear the verdict, there was complete tense silence. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was as if you could hear hearts beating. Then the judge read the verdict.
The jury found Samuel Williams of East Toledo guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of aggravated burglary.
This comes less than a day after Judge Bates in a different courtroom dismissed the charges against Cameo Pettaway, the other man accused in the crime.
Prosecutors in the Williams trial argued the brutal deaths of Johnny Clarke and Lisa Straub inside the Straub family home back in January 2011 had to do with drugs and money.
Several witnesses testified that Johnny Clarke sold marijuana and both he and Lisa used Percocet pills.
The young couple was found on the kitchen floor with their hands duct-taped behind their backs and plastic bags tightly duct-taped over their heads. Williams' DNA was found on a cigarette butt found inside the home that night. A former jail inmate testified Williams confessed to him while behind bars.
And a woman who had big problems with Johnny Clarke after she bought Johnny's car testified that she is good friends with Williams. With the guilty verdict, the jury is not dismissed.
The jury returns to court Monday morning to next decide if Williams should get the death penalty. The three men and nine women are not being sequestered over the weekend. Judge Dean Mandros gave them strict instructions, including a ban on information about what the Pettaway trial.
"Don't talk to anyone. Don't watch any news reports. Stay away from computers. Remain free from any outside influence."
The jury returns Monday for the second phase of this case to decide if Williams should get capital punishment and be put on death row.