Defendant testifies in his murder trial
Prosecutors say murder defendant Thayer Burton is a cold-blooded killer who pistol-whipped an Ashley Furniture Homestore manager before shooting him in the back during a failed robbery.
His defense team, however, describes the teen as a varsity football player for Legacy High School who worked several jobs and wouldn't need to steal.
On Tuesday, a jury for the first time heard from Burton himself as he took the stand in District Court and testified that he is innocent of murder.
The 18-year-old said he wasn't involved in the attempted robbery and slaying of Robert Bills, who was shot and killed in 2007 in front of the furniture store.
"No," exclaimed Burton emphatically when his defense attorney, Bret Whipple, asked him if he murdered Bills.
It was Burton's most-animated moment during his testimony. He mostly remained calm and answered questions succinctly.
He told the jury he had worked several jobs, including delivering food for a local pizzeria. He also helped his older brother, who had a business, Dee Grillz, installing gold and decorative dental work.
More than a dozen of Burton's relatives and supporters sat in the courtroom and listened quietly as he testified.
His supporters have attended every day of the trial since it began May 12.
Prosecutors said Burton shot Bills as the manager was on his way to make a nightly money deposit for the store.
Bills had about $22,000 in cash and checks at the time of the robbery.
Authorities have also charged 24-year-old Lucia Reveles with murder in connection with Bills' death.
Reveles, a former employee of Ashley Furniture Homestore who dated Burton's cousin, gave Burton inside information about Bills' nightly schedule, authorities said.
She is set to go to trial in June.
During the trial, jurors learned that one of Burton's fingerprints was found on the victim's vehicle, which was parked in front of the store on Rainbow Boulevard near Cheyenne Avenue at the time of the slaying.
They also learned that a black hooded sweatshirt with Bills' blood on it was found in Burton's closet.
Authorities also found a handgun wrapped in clothing hidden at Burton's home.
The exact make and model of gun used to kill Bills is unknown because the bullet went through his body and wasn't recovered.
Burton told the jury that the gun was his.
Burton also testified that he touched Bills' vehicle a few days before the slaying when he and his cousin visited Ashley Furniture Homestore to deliver food to Reveles.
Burton said he didn't own the sweatshirt stained with Bills' blood that police found in his closet.
Burton said he wore black hooded sweatshirts, but that they were size large or extra large.
The bloody sweatshirt in his closet was size XXXL, which was the same size as the ones worn by his cousin, whom he was very close to and often drove around with, Burton said.
His mother might have accidentally put the sweatshirt in his closet by mistake, he said.
Prosecutor Susan Pate said the sweatshirt had Burton's DNA on it.
During cross-examination, Pate grilled him on the similarities between him and the killer, such as that both were left handed, wore black hooded sweatshirts and knew a store employee.
Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
