Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - In court today, the daughter of murdered Tucson businessman, Gary Triano took the stand.
She talked about her relationship with her step-mother, Pamela Phillips, one of the two people accused in the murder-for-hire plot.

Ronald Young is the man on trial. He was arrested in October 2008 in California and extradited to Tucson. He's accused of killing Triano, in a car bomb explosion, at la Paloma Country Club in November, 1996.

Pima County detectives say Triano's ex-wife, Pamela Phillips hired young to kill Triano so she could cash in on his life insurance policy.

Heather Triano-Klindworth told jurors she knew about the policy. She also testified she was running late to her father's surprise party when she glanced at a TV and saw La Paloma Country Club. She said to herself, "Is dad going to be bummed something happened at La Paloma. I guess I'll find out about later." Never did she imagine her father was dead.

She also told jurors she got along with her step-mother Pamela Phillips, and even lived with her in aspen in 2001. She was living in New York City before she moved to Aspen. She said, "Basically she (Phillips) kept asking me come to Aspen, to help with Star Babies, which is a business my father purchased while they were married."

The prosecution believes it was during this time Phillips was paying off Ronald Young for killing Gary Triano.

Triano-Klindworth denies any knowledge that Phillips was being blackmailed or threatened during this time by Ronald Young.

Letters from Phillips to Young were shown to Triano-Klindworth. She testified to Phillips' handwriting.

Also in court today the 2-million dollar policy that detectives say was the motive for the murder of Gary Triano. A copy of it showing Pamela Phillips as the beneficiary and over 2-million dollars was paid to her after Triano's death.

The defense asked the insurance agent, if they had done any investigations on their own before the payout to Phillips.

The agent said yes they had, and were told by Pima County Sheriff's investigators, Pamela Phillips was not responsible for Gary Triano's death.

Testimony resumes next Tuesday at 10-am in Judge Christopher Browning's courtroom.