Friday, October 12, 2012
The state of Ohio opened its case against a teenage boy charged in a deadly scheme to lure victims with phony Craigslist job offers, painting him as a willing student of violent crime.
Prosecutor Emily Pelphrey outlined the state's case against 17-year-old Brogan Rafferty in a 40-minute opening statement Friday in Akron.
She told jurors Rafferty chose to participate in the deaths of three men and the wounding of a third, even if he wasn't the triggerman.
Defense attorney John Alexander told jurors Rafferty was afraid that alleged mastermind Richard Beasley would kill him and family members if he didn't cooperate and keep silent. He says Rafferty never participated voluntarily.
Rafferty's co-defendant and reputed mentor has pleaded not guilty and will be tried separately
