Trial begins for double murder suspect
11/27/2012
Daurin Patton, right, who is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery for the shooting deaths of a mother and her teenage son, sits next to his attorney Merle Dech, left, at the Lucas County Courthouse.
Lawrence Elliot didn’t initially know the name of the man who robbed him and a friend on the night of Nov. 25, 2011, and then returned to kill his friend’s mother and teenage brother, but he testified in Lucas County Common Pleas Court today that he recognized the scar on his forehead.
“He pulled out a gun and shot both of them right there on the porch,” Elliot said after identifying Daurin Patton. “Timmy [Blair] got shot twice and Veronica [Serrano] got shot once. He died right there looking at me on the porch. He was 14 years old.”
Elliot, 30, was one of 11 witnesses who testified Tuesday during the first day of Patton’s aggravated murder trial. Patton, 27, of 1202 Champlain St., is charged with two counts of aggravated murder with a gun specification and one count of aggravated robbery. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Prior to hearing the testimony of witnesses, the eight women and four men on the jury were driven to Page Street in North Toledo where they viewed the porch where the shooting took place about one year ago. They were also asked to take note of four other homes and two vacant lots in the 1300 block of Page Street.
Assistant Prosecutor Michael Bahner said that on Nov. 25, 2011, Patton robbed Elliot and his friend Gary Blair of a bottle of liquor while holding a sawed-off shotgun. After leaving the area, Patton then returned with a high-powered rifle and opened fire on Mr. Blair’s home that he shared with his mother, Veronica Serrano, 34, and younger brother, Timothy, 14.
Attorney Merle Dech told jurors that although there is no dispute that two people died, it is unclear who pulled the trigger. He noted that Elliot at first lied to police saying he wasn’t there at all and that he changed his story three times.
Mr. Dech further said that witnesses will be called who will say that Patton “was not present for these acts.”
The trial will continue today with additional witness testimony. Judge Dean Mandros is presiding over the case.
Contact Erica Blake at:
or 419-213-2134.