Member Center

The Main Stream

Witnesses take the stand in Ronald Young trial

Posted: Feb 24, 2010 3:21 AM
Updated: Feb 24, 2010 3:21 AM

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - The first day of testimony wrapped up in the Ronald Young trial Tuesday. Young is accused of killing Tucson business man Gary Triano in 1996. Detectives say Triano's ex-wife, Pamela Phillips, hired Young to kill Triano so she could cash-in on his life insurance policy.

Opening statements began prosecutors taking a look back to November 1st, 1996.

"Most of his hand was missing, there were large damaged areas to his head and face. And Dr. Parks who was the medical examiner who responded to that scene made his determination that it was sudden and impactful death," prosecutor Bill McCollum said.

McCollum ended his opening statements with a recorded conversation between Young and Pamela Phillips.

"Would you sit in a woman's prison for murder... be really sad... you're going to be in prison for murder," Young said in the recording.

The defense also used recorded calls between the two.

"Ron Young is not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Ron Young is not guilty of first degree murder. What Ron did he is not proud of, was blackmail Pamela Phillips," defense attorney Joel Feinman said.

The defense also says the state has no evidence Young was even in Tucson the day Gary Triano died.

"The state's evidence against Ron is not seamless. It doesn't have cohesion," Feinman said.

The trial's first witness was at La Paloma that day and remembers what he heard.

"I still remember the member that I was talking with, that I was standing at the end of the bar. And I heard a very loud loud boom that shook the building. Never experienced anything like it at La Paloma," the witness said.

The trial continues Wednesday and is expected to last seven or eight weeks.

Comments

KVOA.com is Social!

Most Popular

DON'T MISS THESE!

Thumbnail
TUCSON TOGETHER

Volunteer. Donate. Be Kind.

Thumbnail
KRISTI'S KIDS

Stories and videos with Kristi's Kids

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON LIFESAVER

Pool safety information and prize giveaways!

Thumbnail
KVOA.COM LATEST CONTESTS

Win! Win! Win!

Thumbnail
NEWS 4 TUCSON @ 4

What's happening on News 4 @ 4

Thumbnail
ADVERTISE WITH KVOA.COM

Let us help grow your business

Thumbnail
COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What's happening?

Thumbnail
KVOA PROGRAM SCHEDULE

What's on KVOA and when!

Thumbnail
ENJOY TUCSON

Money-saving coupons from retailers around the city!

Thumbnail
MEET US!

KVOA's on air personalities!