Jury Deliberations in Martinsburg Murder Trial Continue
By: Jessica Reyes
Updated: January 16, 2013
MARTINSBURG, WV - The end of the murder trial against Johnathan Bennett is getting closer. WHAG was at the court house Wednesday while the jury deliberated for more than two hours.
Jury deliberations will resume Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Bennett took the stand Wednesday in his own defense. He admitted he initially lied to police about his whereabouts the night of the crime.
Bennett is charged with shooting a man to death at his girlfriend, Ashley Carpegna's, apartment on March 2011.
Bennett said he was out of town and got home around 5:00 a.m. when he heard someone break through the window. He hid behind the bedroom door and saw Carpegna with three men.
Bennett says he saw Carpegna go into the spare bedroom with one of the men and then heard her yelling. That's when he says he came out of the room and started fighting with Omar Navarro, one of the other men who was in the living room.
Bennett says he went to the pantry to get his gun, he says he never meant to use the gun, he just wanted to scare them out of the apartment.
Bennett and Navarro continued fighting and the gun was waving around when it went off.
Bennett says he accidentally shot Geronimo Garcia-Cruz and admitted to dragging his body out of the apartment.
Jury deliberations will resume Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Bennett took the stand Wednesday in his own defense. He admitted he initially lied to police about his whereabouts the night of the crime.
Bennett is charged with shooting a man to death at his girlfriend, Ashley Carpegna's, apartment on March 2011.
Bennett said he was out of town and got home around 5:00 a.m. when he heard someone break through the window. He hid behind the bedroom door and saw Carpegna with three men.
Bennett says he saw Carpegna go into the spare bedroom with one of the men and then heard her yelling. That's when he says he came out of the room and started fighting with Omar Navarro, one of the other men who was in the living room.
Bennett says he went to the pantry to get his gun, he says he never meant to use the gun, he just wanted to scare them out of the apartment.
Bennett and Navarro continued fighting and the gun was waving around when it went off.
Bennett says he accidentally shot Geronimo Garcia-Cruz and admitted to dragging his body out of the apartment.
