Witness describes getting rid of object in second day of murder trial
Wilde Lake man is also charged with killing 7-Eleven employee
By Mike Santa Rita
msantarita@patuxent.com
Posted 9/30/08
A video and the testimony of an unidentified witness were introduced today in Howard County Circuit Court in the second day of a murder trial of a 25-year-old Wilde Lake man, who prosecutors said shot a man in the head "again and again" in a Wilde Lake townhouse in May 2007.
Charles David Richardson, formerly of 5218 Brook Way, Columbia, is charged with first-degree murder of Trae Allen, 19, of Atlanta, who was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head in Richardson’s townhouse on May 21, 2007, according to police.
Today prosecutors played a video of an interview with Richardson made by police shortly after the shooting, in which Richardson told police they could take a DNA sample but did not admit to the crime. In the video, Richardson said he went over to his house on the day of the shooting, found a room full of strange people and later left.
Another witness, who prosecutors asked reporters not to identify because he "felt threatened," told jurors he met Richardson at a motel the day after the murder and Richardson told him he had something he needed to get rid of. The witness described throwing a heavy object wrapped in a towel over a fence at Long Gate Parkway and Route 100.
Randall Huber, an employee with the Howard County Department of Public Works described finding a gun in a pond at that location after draining the pond. He said he gave the gun to police.
Richardson is also charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Alevtina Zhilina, 40, who was shot and killed April 26 while working at the 7-Eleven on Columbia Road, directly across the street from the townhouse complex where Richardson lived. Richardson’s trial in Zhilina’s death is scheduled for Oct. 14.
During opening arguments yesterday, Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn Marshall described a scene in which Allen and several other people had gathered at Richardson’s Columbia townhouse on May 20, 2007 and in which Richardson and Allen got into a heated argument before Richardson pulled out a gun and shot Allen in the head.
“He was shot by the defendant again and again,” Marshall said.
Richardson’s attorney, Mark Van Bavel, conceded that the shooting was “a brutal, tragic, horrible, senseless offense,” but argued that the shooting might not rise to first-degree murder.
He described Richardson as a hard worker at Toby’s Dinner Theater, where he worked in the kitchen, but conceded that Richardson was a regular drug user and possibly a drug dealer.
“Mr. Richardson is a paradox,” Van Bavel said. He described the shooting as an abnormal act that occurred on the spur of the moment. “It is a senseless act that grew out of a troubled mind,” Van Bavel said.
The prosecution also put two witnesses on the stand who saw the shooting.
Joseph Beard, who described himself as Allen’s best friend, said the argument that led to the shooting was about whether Allen would kill for Richardson. “Mr. Allen said I wouldn’t just kill for no reason. If somebody was trying to kill you then I would.”
Allen’s refusal to kill someone on Richardson’s behalf without a reason angered Richardson, who pulled out a gun and shot Allen in the left eye, Beard said.
“He just pulled it out of his sleeve and shot him in the eye,” Beard said.
Lisa Canning, a friend of Richardson’s, said that on the evening of May 20, 2007, Richardson had taken her upstairs and made her look in a bathroom mirror and say they would make a good couple. Canning said she felt uncomfortable in the situation and went downstairs.
Downstairs she described a scene in which a calm situation suddenly became confrontational. Richardson threw his sunglasses to the floor, grabbed Allen around the head, brought the gun to his head and shot him, Canning said. She described Allen holding his head and walking toward the kitchen.
She got up and left the apartment, and then heard several more gunshots, she said.
The trial is expected to end later this week.
Charles David Richardson, formerly of 5218 Brook Way, Columbia, is charged with first-degree murder of Trae Allen, 19, of Atlanta, who was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head in Richardson’s townhouse on May 21, 2007, according to police.
Today prosecutors played a video of an interview with Richardson made by police shortly after the shooting, in which Richardson told police they could take a DNA sample but did not admit to the crime. In the video, Richardson said he went over to his house on the day of the shooting, found a room full of strange people and later left.
Another witness, who prosecutors asked reporters not to identify because he "felt threatened," told jurors he met Richardson at a motel the day after the murder and Richardson told him he had something he needed to get rid of. The witness described throwing a heavy object wrapped in a towel over a fence at Long Gate Parkway and Route 100.
Randall Huber, an employee with the Howard County Department of Public Works described finding a gun in a pond at that location after draining the pond. He said he gave the gun to police.
Richardson is also charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Alevtina Zhilina, 40, who was shot and killed April 26 while working at the 7-Eleven on Columbia Road, directly across the street from the townhouse complex where Richardson lived. Richardson’s trial in Zhilina’s death is scheduled for Oct. 14.
During opening arguments yesterday, Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn Marshall described a scene in which Allen and several other people had gathered at Richardson’s Columbia townhouse on May 20, 2007 and in which Richardson and Allen got into a heated argument before Richardson pulled out a gun and shot Allen in the head.
“He was shot by the defendant again and again,” Marshall said.
Richardson’s attorney, Mark Van Bavel, conceded that the shooting was “a brutal, tragic, horrible, senseless offense,” but argued that the shooting might not rise to first-degree murder.
He described Richardson as a hard worker at Toby’s Dinner Theater, where he worked in the kitchen, but conceded that Richardson was a regular drug user and possibly a drug dealer.
“Mr. Richardson is a paradox,” Van Bavel said. He described the shooting as an abnormal act that occurred on the spur of the moment. “It is a senseless act that grew out of a troubled mind,” Van Bavel said.
The prosecution also put two witnesses on the stand who saw the shooting.
Joseph Beard, who described himself as Allen’s best friend, said the argument that led to the shooting was about whether Allen would kill for Richardson. “Mr. Allen said I wouldn’t just kill for no reason. If somebody was trying to kill you then I would.”
Allen’s refusal to kill someone on Richardson’s behalf without a reason angered Richardson, who pulled out a gun and shot Allen in the left eye, Beard said.
“He just pulled it out of his sleeve and shot him in the eye,” Beard said.
Lisa Canning, a friend of Richardson’s, said that on the evening of May 20, 2007, Richardson had taken her upstairs and made her look in a bathroom mirror and say they would make a good couple. Canning said she felt uncomfortable in the situation and went downstairs.
Downstairs she described a scene in which a calm situation suddenly became confrontational. Richardson threw his sunglasses to the floor, grabbed Allen around the head, brought the gun to his head and shot him, Canning said. She described Allen holding his head and walking toward the kitchen.
She got up and left the apartment, and then heard several more gunshots, she said.
The trial is expected to end later this week.
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