Testimony Begins In Trial Of OKC Pharmacy Murder Suspects

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Prosecutors laid out their case Tuesday morning against two men accused of planning the Oklahoma City pharmacy robbery that ended with the death of a teenage accomplice.

Emanuel Mitchell and Anthony Morrison are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a robbery. Prosecutors say the two planned the robbery of Reliable Pharmacy in Oklahoma City, and 16-year-old Antwun Parker and then 14-year-old Jevontai Ingram agreed to participate. Mitchell and Morrison are also accused of providing the gun, masks and clothing used in the robbery.

Before opening statements began, the judge in the case warned jurors not to read the newspaper or watch news reports on TV about the case.

Prosecutors told jurors Mitchell drove the group to the pharmacy on May 19, 2009, and waited in a stolen getaway car while the other suspects went into the pharmacy. The attempted robbery backfired when pharmacist Jerome Ersland pulled out his gun and shot Parker to death.

After both sides delivered their opening statements, Ingram testified for the prosecution. He made a deal with the district attorney. Ingram pleaded guilty as a youthful offender and agreed to testify against Mitchell and Morrison. In exchange, he must stay in a juvenile facility until he's at least 18 years old, and enter a treatment program.