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Murder trial of 3rd man goes on |
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Thursday, 01 October 2009 |
Testimony began Wednesday in the murder trial against Justin Gatewood, 21, of Benton. Gatewood could face life in prison if the Saline County court finds him guilty of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault and battery. The trial will conclude today in the beating of Alex Ragan, 21, of Benton, and the fatal beating of Darick Foster Kellems, 26, of Benton, on Sept. 4, 2007.
Gatewood is one of four people identified by Ragan as being involved in the incident. He is the third to face charges.
One of the others, Paul Norris, 20, of Benton, was sentenced to life plus 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction by a Saline County jury in May for his involvement in the crime. The jury also found Norris guilty of two counts of aggravated robbery and first-degree battery.
Tim Jackson, 22, and Charles Moore, 24, both of Benton, were also identified by Ragan as suspects. Testimony revealed that a fifth man, known as “Creo” could be involved.
Jackson is awaiting trial on similar charges, but Moore made a deal with the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Aug. 18 to reduce the capital murder charges to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and use of a communication device to facilitate a crime. Phillips sentenced Moore to 10 years in state prison with three years suspended.
Ragan told the jury that on Sept. 4, 2007, he called Moore on the telephone to buy some marijuana.
“Moore said I have a friend named Creo who can hook you up,” Ragan said.
Ragan said after he and Kellems picked him up on Hiland Circle they drove to a house where Creo asked for money in exchange for marijuana.
Ragan said after waiting between 20 to 30 minutes, he and Kellems realized they had been robbed of at least $325. After driving around the Ralph Bunche area of Benton several times and driving back to Hiland Circle looking for Creo, Ragan said he called Moore again. He said Moore told him to call Norris to help find Creo and retrieve his stolen money.
Ragan said he and Kellems picked up Norris, Jackson and Gatewood, who he recognized from school in Bauxite.
“I saw Justin (Gatewood) and I thought ‘cool, someone I know’,” Ragan said.
Ragan said all four drove to an abandon house at Hickory and Cedar streets. Kellems went around the back of the house, while the other three went inside. Ragan said when he and Kellems walked outside the house Norris hit them each in the head with a section of lumber.
Ragan said he was able to get back up, climbed a fence in the yard, ran to his vehicle where he found Gatewood and Jackson, who then beat and robbed him.
After the perpetrators fled, Ragan said Kellems was unconscious and bleeding from both ears. Ragan said he drove home, and his wife took him to Saline Memorial Hospital. He said he spent 5 days in the hospital and had to undergo brain surgery.
Kellems was later found by officers after 2 a.m. in the Ralph Bunche area and was taken to Saline Memorial Hospital. He was later transferred to Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock where authorities said he died.
Testimony continues today at the Saline County Courthouse.
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