Gavin Roberts murder trial: Sides set stage in shooting
Defense: Client ‘thrown under the bus’ in fabricated story
Trending
WARREN -- Opening arguments began Monday in the murder trial of 18-year-old Gavin Roberts, who is accused of luring a 37-year-old man to Warren for the purpose of buying a cellphone. That exchange then ended with the man dying from multiple gunshot wounds.
Gavin Roberts, of Kenilworth Avenue SE, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and burglary in connection with the Nov. 19, 2022, shooting death of Brice Hilton of Farrell, Pa., at Colonial Street and South Feederle Drive SE.
All of the felony charges include specifications that a firearm was used in the commission of the crime.
In court, Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker said the state's evidence and testimony will show that Hilton arranged a meeting with Roberts through a buy-sell-trade app for the purpose of buying a cellphone for his son's birthday, which was only nine days from the night Hilton was shot.
That night, Hilton came to Warren with his then-pregnant girlfriend, who witnessed the shooting.
Before arriving at the location on Colonial Street and South Feederle Drive SE, Becker said the couple stopped at an ATM to withdraw $140 for the phone.
Becker said Hilton's girlfriend will testify on behalf of the state.
Becker said Hilton and his girlfriend pulled behind a car with three individuals inside -- one was Roberts. The others were identified as Carter Hall and William "Duece" Cole Jr.
Becker said that during the sale, the cellphone case was opened and Hilton saw a potato instead of a cellphone. The prosecution said it believes this showed Robert intended to rob Hilton.
As Hilton attempted to back out of the sale and walked back to his vehicle, Roberts began shooting at him, the assistant prosecutor said.
After Hilton fell to the ground, Roberts is said to have approached the body and began rifling through his clothing before shooting him again, Becker stated.
Hall and Cole Jr. then retreated to Cole's father's home on Oak Knoll Avenue and told him what they witnessed.
Becker said when Roberts showed up to the residence, he was armed with the revolver he's alleged to have used.
The prosecutor said Cole Jr.'s father held Roberts at gunpoint on a sofa in the basement of his home as he awaited police's arrival. Shortly after Roberts' arrest, the father told investigators he found $220 in cash in the same spot where he detained Roberts.
The prosecution said when Hilton's body was found, he had $16.73 in his pocket, which suggested the remaining money had been taken by the defendant.
Defense Attorney Jeffrey Goodman's opening statement dismissed the prosecution's opener and likened it to one "based upon a fabricated story."
In his version of events, Goodman said he believes his client was "thrown under the bus" by Hall, Cole Jr. and others.
He also questioned the narrative Cole Jr.'s father told linking Roberts to Hilton's murder. Goodman also told jurors they'd learn that the firearm will show other individuals' DNA on the murder weapon.
Goodman said that Hall and Cole Jr. then went to the home on Oak Knoll Avenue after the shooting. He said this was when the two began planning a story that absolved them of wrongdoing.
The trial is expected to continue this morning with testimony from Warren police officers, the Trumbull County coroner's office, experts from BCI and four individuals.