SAN ANTONIO – As jury selection began in the murder trial of Kerry Gittens, 25, his attorney suggested that the state’s witnesses are not reliable.
“The case is going to turn on the credibility of the witnesses,” said defense attorney George Shaffer.
Gittens and co-defendant Tyree Byrd, 25, are accused of forcing their way into the home of Antwan Jones, 30, and opening fire on the night of Nov. 15, 2014. Jones was shot to death as his 5-year-old son looked on, according to police.
Several witnesses identified Gittens and Byrd as the killers.
“We take issue with the accuracy of their testimony,” Shaffer said. “We think that there may be a hidden motive for them to point the finger at my client.”
Prosecutors declined to comment on the case before trial.
Byrd was arrested in April 2015 in Ohio and is awaiting trial. Gittens was arrested four months later. Authorities said he was hiding in a Houston motel.
If convicted, Gittens faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.