Coykendall, 34, and Erwin Moore Jr., 30 — a friend of Coykendall accused of taking part in the killing — were arrested and charged with murder.
Erwin Moore Jr., file image. Their trial began Friday morning with the jury shown an image of Peterson dead in the middle of the road. During her opening statement, Antonios also displayed a close-up photo of Peterson’s bloodied, swollen face.
“The evidence will show Mr. Peterson was severely beaten,” she said.
Peterson also suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head, Antonios said. But the evidence, she said, will show he didn’t die immediately.
She then played surveillance footage containing chilling audio.
All that can be seen is a driveway and white pickup, but a man is heard repeatedly screaming for help before a gunshot rings out. There is silence for several seconds, then shouting is again heard.
Antonios said the noises came from Peterson during the last moments of his life. She told the jury she will ask them to return guilty verdicts for murder against both defendants.
The defense
Moore’s lawyer, Mark Anthony Raimondo, began his opening statement by describing Peterson as a “troubled soul” who beat his girlfriend and her daughter and drank heavily.
In contrast, both Coykendall and Moore served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Raimondo said. Both served their country, he said, and both made sacrifices on behalf of others.
The attorney repeatedly referenced the Marine Corps — drawing multiple objections from Antonios — as he painted Moore as a virtuous young man who rushed to Coykendall’s aid, believing his friend was suicidal.
Moore, a sergeant at the time, received numerous medals and promotions, Raimondo said.
“Not a single besmirch in his 10-year military history,” he said.
He trained other Marines, the attorney said, and had a talent for helping them talk through their problems.
When Moore got a call from Coykendall the afternoon of the killing, he didn’t know about Peterson being released from prison, or that Coykendall was dating Peterson’s ex, Raimondo said.
Moore left for Ridgecrest — traveling nearly two hours — believing his friend was experiencing a “crisis incident,” Raimondo said. During the call, Coykendall repeatedly said he needed help and wasn’t sure if he was going to make it, according to Raimondo.
Within 10 minutes of Moore’s arrival, Peterson, who had shown up at the house that day without warning, would be dead.
What happened, Raimondo said, is Coykendall, who experienced the horrors of combat in Afghanistan, became consumed by what the attorney believes were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and began fighting Peterson.
As they fought, Moore, caught in the middle, tried to intervene, Raimondo said. A gun fell from Moore’s waistband, he said.
A struggle over the weapon ensued, Raimondo said. It went off. He said the evidence will show Peterson’s DNA was found on the trigger.
After the shooting, Coykendall “went nuts” and brutally beat Peterson with the gun, Raimondo said.
Police arrived as Moore left in his black Chevy Impala. He was pulled over and two guns — one belonging to Coykendall, the other to Moore — were found in the trunk. Moore and the car had blood on them, as did both guns.
Calling Moore “my Marine,” Raimondo asked the jury to find him not guilty, saying he was not responsible for the killing and should be allowed to continue his career of service to his country.
“They’re going to call him ‘the defendant, the defendant, the defendant’ this whole trial,” Raimondo said. “He’s been a defender his whole life.”
Deputy Public Defender T. Alan Rogers, Coykendall’s attorney, decided to reserve his opening statement until after the prosecution has finished presenting evidence.
Full Article: https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/trial-begins-for-2-charged-with-murder-in-ridgecrest-shooting/
