Prosecutors rest on third day of 'Taco Bell murder' trial

GUNTERSVILLE, Alabama (WAFF) – Friday was the third day of Kenov Williams’ murder trial in Guntersville.

Williams is accused of shooting two teenagers, 19-year-old Elias Lopez and 17-year-old Enrique Alvardo, outside a Taco Bell three years ago.

Previous testimony indicates that Williams conspired with two co-defendants, Nicholas Cuzzort and Morgan Young, to rob Lopez in retaliation for stealing marijuana vaping cartridges. Williams posed as a potential buyer of the drugs and arranged to meet Lopez in the parking lot of the Taco Bell on Gunter Avenue.

According to prosecutors, Williams entered Lopez's car that night and shot Lopez and Alvardo, whose presence he was unaware of.

Young and Cuzzort helped Williams escape the crime scene.

The family's testimony in the courtroom on Friday was quite difficult because the medical examiner who performed the autopsies at both crime scenes took the witness stand.

Medical Examiner Jonrica Malone told jurors that Elias Lopez was shot five times.

She said two of the wounds were fatal: a shot to the shoulder that injured the neck, and another to the back that damaged the right lung, kidney and liver.

Malone said Lopez probably bled to death.

She also detailed the autopsy of Enrique Alvardo, who was shot four times. Malone says the fatal shot came from a bullet to the forehead, which left severe damage to the skull and brain.

During cross-examination, Williams, who continues to represent himself in the trial, questioned Malone about the cause of Lopez's death and wanted to know whether his death was hastened when he was run over by his co-defendant Morgan Young while fleeing.

Malone confirmed that Lopez died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, and Williams was resting.

Next up was forensic weapons investigator Damon Cooper of the Alabama Department of Forensics. He received two weapons linked to the murder, one belonging to Williams and one investigators found in Lopez's car.

Coopers says the shots that killed Lopez and Alvardo came from Williams' gun.

Some cartridge cases found in the vehicle and in the parking lot belonged to the other firearm, while other cases could not be clearly identified due to damage.

During his cross-examination, Williams asked Cooper about the possibility that another weapon was involved in the shooting. Cooper told the court that was a possibility.

Finally, the state removed former chief investigator John East from the Guntersville Police Department.

East was scheduled to testify about his second interview with Williams after the shooting. However, when prosecutors tried to introduce a shorter, edited version of the interview footage into evidence, Williams objected, claiming he wanted to show the jury the raw footage, which included everything he had said.

Judge Abel agreed and the jury endured a two-hour interrogation between Kenov Williams and John East.

East told the court that Williams told the department from the prison that he wanted to speak with investigators.

During this conversation, Williams asked investigators not to target his ex-girlfriend and co-defendant Morgan Young.

Young was the driver of the blue Nissan that drove over Elias Lopez's body on the night of the murder.

Williams also admitted to shooting Lopez that night, but only because Lopez shot him first.

After that interview was played, East State asked if Williams had lied during his first interview on the night of the murders.

East answered in the affirmative, and Williams declined cross-examination.

After this interview, the state rested. The trial is expected to continue on Monday at 9 a.m. with Williams' first witness.

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