In his second court appearance, Robert Warnock has switched directions by identifying Kenneth Arrasmith as the man who approached Ronald Bingham moments before Bingham and his wife were shot to death.
So far, Warnock, 18, is the only person who can place Arrasmith at the scene of the May 17 shooting deaths at a Lewiston auto shop.Warnock testified Monday at Arrasmith's murder trial he did not recognize him at a June preliminary hearing "because I was scared and because he looked different in a suit."
But on the fourth day of the trial, Warnock did not hesitate to point to the defendant as the person who walked up to Bingham with a box and told him "I have something special for you."
Warnock said he turned away and within one or two minutes, shots rang out. He said he hopped into a truck and fled, only to return after police were on the scene.
Arrasmith has not admitted to killing Bingham and his wife, Luella. But he contends the two sexually tortured his 15-year-old daughter.
Defense attorney Craig Mosman jumped on Warnock's estimation it was one or two minutes after he turned away before the shooting began, implying there may have been a confrontation in that short time. He asked if Warnock heard any later conversation. Warnock replied he did not.
Photos of the bullet-ridden bodies were shown to the jury Monday, along with a videotape thatshows a cardboard box on the ground.
Nez Perce County Prosecutor Denise Rosen contends Arrasmith carried a box to conceal the semi-automatic handgun used to kill Ronald Bingham. Luella Bingham was shot with another pistol.
Lewiston pathologist Carl Koenen testified Bingham's body had 44 bullet holes, 24 of them entry wounds.
But there was little blood in the abdomen, which meant death came immediately after an initial shot in the head, Koenen said.