Murder Conviction Fought in Federal Court

Mackenzie Shirilla, 21, who gained notoriety through a Netflix documentary, has formally requested a new trial. On July 28, she submitted a writ of habeas corpus petition to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. This legal action contends that her current imprisonment violates her constitutional rights and seeks to overturn her convictions.

Shirilla is serving a sentence of life in prison without parole for 15 years, following her conviction for murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. These charges stem from a July 2022 crash that tragically killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their mutual friend, Davion Flanagan. The petition outlines eight alleged violations of her constitutional rights during her initial trial and appeal attempts.

While some arguments in the petition mirror those previously rejected by the appeals court, such as insufficient evidence for a murder conviction or trial as an adult, new claims have also been introduced. These include allegations that her first appellate attorney provided ineffective assistance by failing to raise crucial issues. Additionally, the petition asserts that a missed 365-day deadline for post-conviction relief by her attorneys also constitutes ineffective legal representation. The Ohio Supreme Court had previously declined to reconsider her case due to the filing being one day past the deadline. Shirilla also recently filed a delayed request to reopen her initial appeal, which had been rejected by the Eighth District Court of Appeals.