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Closing arguments are set to begin Monday morning in the high-profile trial of former Mid-State Correctional Facility officer Johan Levi, who is accused of participating in the fatal beating of inmate Messiah Nantwi at the Marcy prison last year. If convicted on the top charge of murder, Levi could face 25 years to life in prison.
Testimony wrapped up on Friday after Onondaga County Medical Examiner Katrina Monday detailed severe injuries suffered by Nantwi, including more than 69 separate wounds and at least 15 blows to the head. Monday testified that Nantwi’s cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries due to assault" and the manner of death was homicide, explaining that the force inflicted led to massive brain swelling and bleeding—damage "worse than one might see suffered by a prizefighter" according to the Observer Dispatch.
Prosecutors allege that Levi, as part of the prison’s Corrections Emergency Response Team, attacked Nantwi, who was found unresponsive on March 1, 2025. One witness, a former corrections officer, testified that he saw Levi stomp on Nantwi’s head several times without provocation. The prosecution also presented body-worn camera footage from the incident in court as reported by the Rome Sentinel.
The defense called a single witness, registered nurse Sergey Savitskiy, who stated that Nantwi was uncooperative and combative while medical staff attempted to treat him after the beating. Savitskiy described Nantwi as "fighting everybody" and trying to bite him, but did not address the fatal injuries according to WKTV.
Both sides rested their cases on Friday. After closing statements Monday morning, Judge Michael Nolan will instruct the jury, who are expected to begin deliberations as soon as Monday afternoon. Levi denies any wrongdoing. The trial has drawn significant local attention due to the severity of the charges and the circumstances of the inmate’s death.