ORLANDO, Fla. – Both the state and the defense have rested in the trial for Bessman Okafor, the man who is accused in a home invasion police say is linked to a homicide.
Okafor, who is accused in a home invasion police say is linked to the murder of 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar, broke into a home with another man and later killed one of the key witnesses in the home invasion case, police say.
The defense called one witness on Tuesday after the state rested. Okafor did not testify.
Police say Okafor and a friend broke into the teen's Ocoee home in May 2012, demanded cash and drugs at gunpoint and tied up Zaldivar and his two roommates.
Okafor said he was at his sister's house at the same time that home invasion occurred.
Just months later, according to investigators, Okafor went back to the same home and shot three people, including Zaldivar, execution style. Zaldivar was killed, while the other 2 victims survived.
Okafor shot Zaldivar, according to police, to keep him from testifying.
Okafor and his co-defendant, face up to life in prison for the home invasion.
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