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Teen eyewitness testifies in murder case with no body
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Related Topics: Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County (Map, News) - A 16-year-old Annapolis boy testified Thursday that he watched Antonio “Pumpkin” Moore shoot a Brooklyn Park man and stuff him into the trunk of a car.
Prosecutors are largely relying on the testimony to prove Michael “Mikey” Francis, 21, was murdered behind a Brooklyn Park row house in April 2007, because authorities never found the body.
“Pumpkin shot him right in the chest,” said the boy, whose name The Examiner is withholding.
“I saw the gun go off ... and Mikey fall in the trunk.”
Moore is charged with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping. He was granted a new trial before Anne Arundel Circuit Judge Michele Jaklitsch after another judge dismissed the case in March.
The boy, who was 15 at the time, testified that Moore was carrying a 9 mm rifle when he arrived April 13 at the 5100 block of Brookwood Road.
Moore and his girlfriend, Sierra Anderson, were arguing with another man at the house, Teiko Johnson, 31, and used the gun to beat Johnson in the face, the boy said.
When Francis intervened, the boy said he became scared and went to his room.
“I heard commotion in the backyard and looked out my window,” the boy said.
“Pumpkin had the gun pointed toward [Francis] ... he was saying ‘get the f--- in the trunk.’ ”
The boy said Francis pleaded with Moore and tried to stand up, but Moore shot him at close range.
Police later found Francis’ bloody clothes in the back of the car.
The trial is expected to continue through next week.
cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com
