Not-guilty verdict returned in local stabbing case
Chelsea Simeon
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 1:53 PM UTC
1 min read
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A jury returned a not-guilty verdict in the case of a woman accused of a June 2024 stabbing.
The verdict was handed down on Wednesday afternoon in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas.
Prosecutors said Perasia Godfrey, 19, stabbed a woman following a fight on Cameron Avenue, but Godfrey’s attorney, Mark Lavelle, then told jurors in his closing argument that prosecutors never showed them the actual knife that was used, nor can it be seen in any video.
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Godfrey had faced felonious assault charges.
Testimony in the case began Monday after a jury was seated.
Assistant Prosecutor Anissa Modarelli told jurors that the victim in the case had broken up a fight and was walking away when she was attacked by Godfrey and stabbed.
Lavelle said there is no evidence that the victim sustained her injuries with a knife. He also said the case was presented to a grand jury before anyone could hear Godfrey’s side of the story or that of other witnesses.
Joe Gorman and Kristy Regula contributed to this report.
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