According to prosecutors, Arik Sims and Lamar Fonville were good friends until the night Sims shot Fonville without warning, allegedly because he believed Fonville burglarized his mother’s house.
But Sims’ defense attorneys say Sims had no motive to kill his friend and argue that prosecutors rely on the testimony of one witness who is “jealous” of Sims.
These were the opening arguments jurors heard Tuesday, the first day of trial in the case.
Sims, 24, is charged with first degree murder and three weapons charges in connection with the Sept. 30, 2012, shooting death of 29-year-old Fonville.
Police found Fonville lying on the sidewalk of the 7400 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest at approximately 2:30 a.m., moments before his final breath. Prosecutors say he died on the scene from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Nelson, earlier that night, Sims told Fonville to check out a girl across the street, then shot him as soon as Fonville turned around.
Later, Sims confessed his motive and crime to his close friend Jeffrey Adams and asked Adams to be his alibi, Nelson told jurors.
But defense attorney James Rudasill says Adams lied about Sims’ confession in order to get rid of Sims. Adams’ purposes are “ancient and Shakespearean,” said defense attorney James Rudasill, “motivated by jealousy for the love of Sims’ mother.”
Prosecutors said that along with Sims’ alleged confession, they have physical evidence and eyewitness testimony to prove Sims was the shooter that night.
Defense attorneys said they will call witnesses of their own that contradict the government’s case, including Sims’ mother and their own eyewitnesses.
The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. before Judge Robert Morin.
