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Officers take stand in murder trial
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Published: October 23, 2009
The majority of the witnesses to testify Thursday at the first-degree murder trial of Al Bellamy were law enforcement officers.
Bellamy is charged with the Oct. 31, 2004, shooting death of Jimmy Matreece Walker, who was found dead in front of the CVS Pharmacy on Turnersburg Highway.
The trial resumed after a five-day break Thursday.
Walker and two other men, Clarence Coleman and Wesley Marrow, all of Charlotte, robbed and kidnapped Kenny Oakley about 90 minutes prior to Walker being found dead, authorities have said.
The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Jason Parker, contends Bellamy killed Walker for robbing and kidnapping his friend, Oakley.
The trial, which began on Oct. 13 in Iredell County Superior Court, recessed last Friday for a judicial conference, which took place Monday through Wednesday.
The witnesses who testified Thursday included Statesville Police Department Capts. Mike Watts and David Onley, both of whom were on duty the night of the robbery.
Watts said he was in the area and was looking for a vehicle reportedly involved in the robbery. The description of the vehicle given, he said, was that of a dark-colored Chevrolet Caprice.
He said he spotted a dark-colored Ford Crown Victoria, but thought it was an unmarked Iredell County Sheriff's Office vehicle.
Later, when the description of the robbery vehicle was changed to a Ford Crown Victoria, Watts said, he tried to find it, but was unsuccessful.
Onley testified to finding Oakley's wallet on the roadway on Pump Station Road.
He also testified concerning items recovered from Walker's body, including a cell phone, cigarette lighter, cash and marijuana.
The initial lead investigator on the case, John Cranford, who now works in the narcotics division, also testified Thursday.
Cranford told the jury a total of $960 was recovered from Walker's body, and that two 45 caliber shell casings were found along the roadway on Turnersburg Road.
Phil Hollar, who is retired from the sheriff's office, testified about finding several items in the yard of a residence between Cowan Lane, where Oakley lived, and the Home Depot parking lot.
He told the jury a black T-shirt, bandanna and nylon sock were found in the yard, and a mask and two gloves were found nearby.
The next day, he said, deputies recovered a shotgun from a ditch on Pump Station Road, and an assault rifle from the area near where the gloves, mask and other items were found.
One witness, who asked that his name not be used, testified that he overheard Bellamy admit to killing one of the robbers during a gathering a few days after the shooting.
That witness, under cross-examination, admitted was facing federal drug charges when he told law enforcement about overhearing the conversation.
"You did get a reduction in federal time by giving information,"defense attorney Robert Trobich asked.
The man said he did.
Trobich has questioned several of the people who have tied Bellamy to the shooting concerning reduction in time on various sentences.
The state is expected to wrap up its case today.
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