Defendant is cold-blooded killer, says prosecutor in murder trial

YOUNGSTOWN — The murder trial for 27-year-old Anthony M. Caulton got under way with detailed accounts from witnesses at the field where a man was fatally shot nearly three years ago.

Caulton, of East Auburndale Avenue, is accused of fatally shooting Larry D. Jones, 31, of Ravenwood Avenue, at the former South High Stadium football field during a little league football game in 2006.

Dawn Cantalamessa, an assistant county prosecutor, told the panel of jurors: “The defendant Anthony Caulton is a cold-blooded killer with no regard for others, including the safety of little children attending a peewee football game.”

Cantalamessa said Caulton was counting on no one wanting to get involved in the case or coming forward. She said only two witnesses came forward to testify.

Atty. Lynn Maro, representing Caulton, told the jurors that police were under pressure to make an arrest in the case and, in their haste, focused on Caulton.

She said witnesses only came forward after days of Caulton’s face appearing on television and in the newspaper.

“Protocol was not followed. Procedure was not followed, and as a result the process to solve the case was tainted,” Maro added.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com