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Thread: Willie Gene Wilks, Jr. - Ohio Death Row

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    Willie Gene Wilks, Jr. - Ohio Death Row


    Ororo Wilkins





    Jurors to report court Friday for capital murder case

    Jurors are expected to begin to report to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Friday to begin the selection process in the trial of a man accused of killing a woman on the North Side last May.

    Judge Lou D’Apolito will have an orientation for jurors before they fill out questionnaires and then return Monday to be selected to hear the case against Willie Wilks, 42, of Elm Street, who could face the death penalty if convicted of the May 21 shooting of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins.

    Wilks is accused of driving to a home in the 700 block of Park Avenue and opening fire, killing Wilkins, who was holding an infant when she was killed and wounding another man, Alexander Morales Jr.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/mar/1...urder-case/?nw
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    Jury selection begins in murder trial

    It could take at least a week to seat a jury to hear the capital murder case of Youngstown man.

    Willie Wilks Jr., 42, is accused in the death of Ororo Wilkins, 20, and the wounding of Alexander Morales, 24, last May. At the time, Wilkins was holding a 5-month-old baby in her arms, but the baby was not hurt. Police said Morales was shot while trying to get into the house.

    The shootings happened on Park Avenue on the city’s North Side. Police said Wilks was at the house looking for Wilkins’ brother.

    During Wilks’ arrest by the U.S. Marshals Task Force , police recovered a semi-automatic handgun along with $1,680 in cash.

    If convicted, Wilks could face the death penalty.

    http://wkbn.com/2014/03/17/jury-sele...urder-trial-2/
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    Jury selection enters second week in capital case

    YOUNGSTOWN -- Jury selection has entered its second week in a capital case in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

    Individual questioning of jurors has been underway in the courtroom of Judge Lou D’Apolito to hear the case against 42-year-old Willie Wilks of Elm Street.

    More than 100 jurors reported to D’Apolito’s courtroom March 14 for orientation, and individual questioning began March 17.

    As of late Monday afternoon, 23 jurors had been qualified to serve as jurors in the death-penalty case, a spokesman for Judge D’Apolito said. The spokesman said it is not known how many jurors will be qualified before general jury selection takes place to whittle the pool down to 12.

    Wilks is accused of the May 21 shooting death of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins and the wounding of another man at a Park Avenue home on the North Side.

    Police said Wilkins was standing on the porch of the home holding a baby when she was killed.

    If the jury finds Wilks guilty of aggravated murder with death-penalty specifications, a second phase of the trial, called a mitigation phase, will take place. In that phase of the trial, Wilks’ attorneys will present evidence to the jury as to why Wilks’ life should be spared.

    Jurors could determine if Wilks deserves the death penalty, or life in prison with no parole, life in prison with no parole after 30 years, or life imprisonment with no parole after 25 years.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/mar/2...d-week-in-mah/

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    Jury selection in Wilks case in final stages

    YOUNGSTOWN - Opening arguments are expected to begin today in the case of a man facing the death penalty in a murder on the North Side last May.

    Jury selection in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court wrapped up Monday, about three weeks after it began, for Willie Wilks, 42, of Elm Street.

    Wilks faces charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault in the the May 13 murder of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins and the wounding of another man at a Park Avenue home on the North Side. Wilkins was holding an infant at the time she was shot, but the baby was not harmed.

    If Wilks is convicted of aggravated murder, he could face the death penalty because of the added specification that he tried to kill more than one person.

    Judge Lou D’Apolito is hearing the case.

    More than 100 potential jurors reported to Judge D’Apolito’s courtroom March 14 for orientation, then attorneys on both sides, along with the judge, began the process of selecting jurors who could be seated to hear a death-penalty case.

    After three weeks, 46 people remained in the jury pool, and the final 12 jurors plus four alternates were chosen Monday morning.

    Jurors visited the crime scene Monday afternoon before being sent home for the day.

    If Wilks is convicted of aggravated murder with death-penalty specifications, a second phase of the trial, called the mitigation phase, will take place. During that phase, defense attorneys would present evidence on mitigating factors to try to persuade the jury to spare the defendant’s life.

    Only jurors can recommend a sentence of death.

    The last person to be sentenced to death in Mahoning County was Bennie Adams, who was convicted in October 2008 of the 1985 murder of Youngstown State University student Gina Tenney. Former Judge Timothy Franken upheld the jury’s recommendation of death in that case.

    Police believe Wilks, angry over an ongoing dispute, pulled up to the home and opened fire with an assault rifle. Wilkins was struck in the head as she sat on the porch of the home holding a 5-month-old child. The child fell to the ground but suffered no injuries in the shooting.

    Wilks reportedly was dating Wilkins’ mother. Police believe Wilks and the woman’s son, Wilkins’ brother, were involved in an ongoing dispute over Wilks’ treatment of the mother.

    Wilks was arrested the next day when he was seen driving a van belonging to Wilkins’ mother.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/apr/0...in-murder-cas/

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    Trial begins in Youngstown death penalty case

    YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The trial against a Youngstown man accused of killing a woman and attempting to kill two others began Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

    Willie Wilks Jr. is charged with aggravated murder in the May 21 shooting death of Orora Wilkins, 20, of Youngstown.

    Wilks is also accused of shooting Alex Morales in the back as he sat on the porch with Wilkins at a house on Park Avenue.

    Prosecutors painted Wilks as an enraged man looking for revenge when he went to the house that Tuesday afternoon.

    Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Becky Doherty said Wilks was looking for Orora Wilkins’ brother William “Mister” Wilkins when he went to the house because Wilkins had allegedly accused him of stealing money from a family member.

    “You walk up to a porch with an AK-47, a big gun, and you shoot her in the head. That is the purpose. The purpose is to kill her,” said Doherty. “This isn’t something that is spur of the moment. This isn’t we get into a heated argument and I pull out a gun and shoot you. This is something that is thought out.”

    According to Doherty, Alex Morales and Orora Wilkins were sitting on the porch when Wilks walked up and asked, “Where the (expletive) is he?”

    Morales got up to go inside the house and Wilks allegedly shot him in the back. Morales was holding a baby at the time and fell on top of the child. Orora Wilkins got up to go to the baby and was shot in the head and killed.

    Doherty said that Wilkins also fired shots at an upstairs window in an attempt to hit William “Mister” Wilkins.

    Most of the testimony Wednesday centered on the shooting scene. Doherty questioned Patrolman Melvin Johnson, who was one of the first officers to respond. She specifically asked him about radio traffic and what was reported at the scene, specifically if a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) had been issued for Wilks.

    “I heard radio from other officers when I mentioned the name Wilks that was given to me as a potential suspect. I heard radio traffic from other officers in reference to a Wilks based on things they were familiar with about vehicles and license plates,” said Johnson. “I am listening to this but not directly because I know these officers are speaking to one another in reference to my initial announcement that Wilks was mentioned.”

    The jury has been to the crime scene where bullet holes can still be seen near an upstairs window and on the porch.

    Several witnesses are scheduled to testify, including Orora Wilkins’ sister.

    http://wkbn.com/2014/04/09/trial-beg...-penalty-case/

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    Prosecutors wrapping their part of Wilks trial

    YOUNGSTOWN - Prosecutors Friday finished presenting their case against a man who could be sentenced to death if convicted of killing a woman on a North Side porch last May.

    City police Detective Sgt. John Perdue, the lead investigator, was the last witness called by prosecutors in the case against 42-year-old Willie Wilks of Elm Street.

    Wilks faces a charge of aggravated murder in the death of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins and felonious-assault and attempted-aggravated-murder charges in the shooting of 25-year-old Alex Morales. They were shot on the porch of a Park Avenue home May 21, 2013.

    Wilks faces a third charge of attempted aggravated murder for purportedly firing a shot at Wilkins’ brother, Willie Wilkins, who was upstairs in the home when police say Wilks showed up with an AK-47. That shot missed Willie Wilkins.

    Perdue, who has spent 36 years on the force and has been the lead detective on more than 100 homicides, testified that he interviewed Willie Wilkins at the police station, and he identified Wilks as the shooter, as did Morales, whom he interviewed in the hospital the next day.

    Previous testimony by patrol officers who were first on the scene said that Wilks was identified as the shooter when they arrived, and a bulletin already was out to alert officers that Wilks was a suspect.

    Perdue said the stories told by Willie Wilkins and Morales were very similar.

    Under cross-examination by one of Wilks’ attorneys, Ron Yarwood, Perdue said a physical description of the suspect in the shooting was not provided, only the name. He also went through several reports and witness statements with Yarwood during his cross-examination.

    It is expected that the defense will start its case Monday.

    Wilks faces death-penalty specifications because he is accused of killing one person while trying to kill two or more people. If he is convicted of death-penalty specifications, a second phase of the trial, or mitigation phase, will take place. In that phase, defense attorneys will present evidence to jurors about why they should spare Wilks’ life.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/apr/1...part-of-trial/

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    Youngstown man found guilty of murdering woman could face death penalty

    The jury that convicted a Youngstown man of murdering a woman will now help decide if he'll be sent to Ohio's death row.

    42-year-old Willie Wilks, Jr. reacted with anger on Tuesday morning when a jury in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court found him guilty on all counts for the shooting death of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins and wounding of 24-year-old Alexander Morales as they stood on the porch of a home on Park Avenue in Youngstown last May.

    Wilkins was holding a baby in her arms when she was gunned down.

    After deliberating a short time Monday night and part of Tuesday morning, the jury found Wilks guilty of murder, felonious assault and weapons violations.

    Upon hearing the guilty verdict on the murder charge, Wilks slammed his hands on a courtroom table and claimed that he did not commit the crime.

    Wilks could still be heard shouting after he left the court. Authorities say he kicked a hole in a hallway wall as he was being led away.

    The same jury is expected to be back in court next week to begin the mitigation phase of the trial.

    Attorneys will present arguments that could determine if the jury will recommend that the judge sentence Wilks to be executed for the crimes, or sentenced to life in prison.

    http://www.wfmj.com/story/25252808/y...-death-penalty
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    Second phase of Wilks trial to start

    Jurors who found 42-year-old Willie Wilks guilty of aggravated murder this month return to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court today to hear testimony on why he should not be put to death.

    Jurors convicted Wilks on April 14 of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications for the May 21, 2013, shooting death of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins. He also was convicted of felonious assault for the wounding of 25-year-old Alex Morales and two counts of attempted aggravated murder for shooting at Morales and Ororo Wilkins’ brother, Willie Wilkins.

    Wilks is eligible for the death penalty because jurors found that he was guilty of murdering Ororo Wil-kins while trying to kill two or more people.

    This part of the case is commonly known as the mitigation phase. While prosecutors still have the burden of proof to convince a jury that Wilks must be put to death, defense attorneys will present evidence to the jury as to why Wilks’ life should be spared.

    Wilks claimed he is innocent, and after he was convicted he kicked a hole in the wall near the prisoner elevator at the courthouse.

    Judge Lou D’Apolito is hearing the case.

    During the trial, prosecutors told jurors the shooting started after Wilks argued with Willie Wilkins over a bank card belonging to Willie Wilkins’ mother, who was dating Wilks at the time. They said he went to the Park Avenue home in which Willie Wilkins lived and fired from an assault rifle onto the porch.

    Morales dropped a baby he was holding when he was shot. Ororo Wilkins was reaching for the baby when she was shot in the head, police said.

    The baby was not harmed.

    Willie Wilkins was in an upstairs room, and Wilks fired a round at the window but missed, police said.

    Jurors can recommend a sentence of death; life in prison with no parole; life in prison with parole after 30 years; or life in prison with parole after 25 years.

    Only the jury can recommend the death penalty, and if it does, Judge D’Apolito can reject that decision and sentence Wilks to life with no parole or he can accept the recommendation and uphold it. If he does not accept the recommendation, he cannot sentence Wilks to something more than jurors recommended.

    Judge D’Apolito also said jurors will be sequestered if they cannot reach a decision after the first day of deliberations.

    The last person to be sentenced to death in Mahoning County is Bennie Adams, who was convicted in October 2008 of the 1985 murder of Youngstown State University student Gina Tenney. Former Judge Timothy Franken upheld the jury’s recommendation of death in that case.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/apr/2....4kqC7Ntb.dpuf
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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    Death penalty recommended in Wilks murder trial

    YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Monday, a jury recommended the death penalty for Willie Wilks, already convicted of murder in the death of Orora Wilkins in Youngstown last spring.

    While the jury has made its recommendation, Judge Lou D’Apolito will have the final say as to whether or not Wilks receives the death penalty.

    It took three weeks to seat a jury in the capital murder case against Wilks, but just five hours for that same jury to return a guilty verdict on April 15.

    Wilks was screaming and kicking holes in walls as he was led from a Mahoning County Common Pleas courtroom where a jury found him guilty of aggravated murder.

    Wilks was accused of killing Wilkins and then turning his AK-47 on Alexander Morales Jr. last spring.

    Opening statements started last week that laid a narrative of revenge and rage that ended in the shooting death of Wilkins and the injuring of Morales as they sat on the front porch of a home on the city’s North Side.

    Prosecutors said Wilks was looking for Wilkins and her brother, Willie “Mister” Wilkins, to confront them about an alleged theft. He fired an AK-47 at Orora Wilkins and Morales, killing Wilkins.

    As Judge Lou D’Apolito read the guilty verdict, Wilks slammed the table where he was seated and shouted his innocence.

    “I didn’t do this,” screamed Wilks.

    The judge called for quiet in the courtroom and later told sheriff’s deputies to keep people inside while Wilks was taken out.

    In the hallway, Wilks started shouting at deputies and kicked a hole in the wall. Wilkins’ grandmother, Hattie Wilkins, was in the courtroom during the proceedings and said she was relieved by the verdict.

    “It all in God’s hands and God has showed his hand today,” said Wilkins.

    Wilks’ family did not want to go on camera, but his mother could be heard in the courtroom telling her son to ‘keep calm.” After court she said her son was caught off guard by the proceedings and didn’t expect a guilty verdict.

    A sentencing date has not been set. Wilks could be sentenced to death.

    http://wkbn.com/2014/04/28/death-pen...-murder-trial/

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    Wilks sentencing is Wednesday

    YOUNGSTOWN -- Sentencing will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a man facing the death penalty for the murder of a woman on a North Side porch last May.

    Jurors recommended May 5 that 42-year-old Willie Wilks receive the death penalty for the murder of 20-year-old Ororo Wilkins as she sat on a Park Avenue porch. Wilks was also found guilty of attempted murder for wounding a man in the back and firing a shot at Wilkins’ brother but missing.

    Judge Lou A. D’Apolito can either accept or reject the jury’s recommendation.

    http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/may/0...-wednesday/?nw

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