A prison inmate who lured a Lancaster woman to her front door before she was fatally shot in 2011 will not get a new trial, a state appeals court ruled.
Jakwan A. Green, now 28, is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and conspiracy regarding the killing of Diana Spencer, which Green and two other men planned.
Spencer was repeatedly shot through the front door of her Old Dorwart Street home by Oscar Martinez on April 16, 2011. Christopher L. Lassitter provided the loaded gun and getaway vehicle.
Martinez and Green are serving life terms. Lassitter is serving 30 to 60 years.
Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth convicted Green at a nonjury trial in 2013.
Testimony presented by First Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Larsen showed Green was part of the murder plot, then lured Spencer from her bedroom with a knock at the door just before 1 a.m. Martinez then opened fire.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently denied Green’s request for relief, which presents a number of allegations regarding his conviction.
The appeals court ruled that many of the arguments were too late and without merit.
“We would conclude that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support his conviction,” the state court writes in an opinion, referring to reasons laid out in Judge Ashworth’s initial denial of Green’s request.
Martinez, Green and Lassitter were members of the “Bloods” gang, according to court testimony. They targeted the Old Dorwart Street home because Spencer’s boyfriend was involved with a rival gang, according to testimony.
Lancaster police Detective Kurtis Miller filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright
