Man accused in killing on trial

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

By Schuyler Kropf

The Post and Courier

The murder trial in the shooting death of a 24-year-old Hispanic man who died at a North Charleston cemetery began Tuesday with a prosecutor accusing the defendant of bragging about the killing.

Travoris Maurice Hurst, 23, of North Charleston, is one of three people accused in the August 2007 death of Roni Perez-Ricardez.

During opening arguments at the Charleston County Judicial Center, 9th Circuit Assistant Solicitor Greg Voigt said that after the shooting Hurst could not "keep his mouth shut" about killing the man.

According to authorities, Perez-Ricardez was shot in the early morning hours and died from two bullet wounds, one in the front and one in the back. At least two weapons were used. A fireman working near the Johnson Cemetery on Stall Road heard the shots and called police.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has described the shooting as a botched robbery involving Perez-Ricardez, a drug dealer.

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Hispanic man dies in failed robbery, published 08/11/07

Defense attorney Juan Tolley asked jurors to keep an open mind, saying prosecutors have only a "theory" about what happened that night.

Perez-Ricardez was originally from Mexico and lived in the Stall Road area. He died at the scene. He was found near a pillar at the cemetery's entrance.

Two other suspects are charged and will be prosecuted later. The case is being prosecuted under the legal argument that the hand of one is the hand of all, which covers homicides involving multiple participants.