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Testimony resumes today in the Florida trial of Laquan Barrow, Michael Smith, and Gary King. All three men are all facing second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges related to a shooting outside the Cloud 9 night club in Ocala.
Benetria Robinson, 19, died outside the club of gunshot wounds to her head and shoulder, police and court records indicate. Five others were injured. Nathaniel Kendrick, 35, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Danielle Kendrick, 28, and Dontarious Bartley, 19, were both shot in the back. Thomia Wadley, 21, and Danvinist Blunt, 22, were shot both in the leg.
By the close of testimony Thursday, witnesses had implicated all three defendants as triggermen in the shooting, though the conflicting testimony of at least one witness could pose problems for the prosecution.
On Friday, the prosecution called their final witnesses, including Wayne Council, the bouncer at the Cloud 9 club, and officers who spoke to witnesses. Detective Mark Newbanks discussed how witness Jarrell Shaw identified all three defendants as being involved in what happened at the club. Shaw said that King and Smith had fired weapons, but he did not see Barrow with a gun, just that he “was there and was one of the main reasons this happened tonight.”
Detective Frank Scala told the court how Council identified Barrow as a shooter.
The prosecution is expected to officially rest their case Monday morning. Attorneys for the defendants will then get the opportunities to call witnesses.
Stay with Law&Crime.com and the Law&Crime Network for continuing coverage of the case.
Aaron Keller contributed to this report.
