Ethan Liming Trial Closing Arguments & Verdict

Day three brought us the medical examiner's testimony, the lead detective, and the detective who interviewed DeShawn Stafford. Nowhere in the medical examiner's testimony did he mention any evidence that Ethan was stomped, kicked, and punched after he was on the ground. Both detectives admitted to NOT looking at the three boys, who were with Ethan, cellphones and Ethan's phone mysteriously disappeared and no one bothered to look into that either.

The state rested at the end of day three. Day four will bring us directed verdict arguments and finally closing arguments.

On June 2, 2022, four teens, including Ethan Liming,17, pulled up to the basketball courts at the LeBron James, I Promise School, in Akron, Ohio. Two teens exited the vehicle and started firing a SplatRBall water bead blaster gel gun toward a group of four people playing basketball. This led to a confrontation between the two groups and a fight ensued. Ethan Liming was knocked to the ground, was unresponsive, and continued to be beaten resulting in Ethan's death.

Three people were eventually charged brothers DeShawn, 20, Tyler, 19, Stafford, and their cousin, Donovon Jones, 21. The three men were charged with murder, but a Summit County grand jury indicted all three on lesser charges. The Stafford brothers were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Donovon Jones pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of assault and received a 180-day suspended jail sentence.

The Stafford brothers' trial started on September 15, 2023. Their trial was held together with each brother having their own attorneys.