Defense: Kiosk owner’s killing done by others

By Matt Pordum

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 | 8:37 a.m.

The attorney for a 20-year-old man accused of killing a 40-year-old jewelry kiosk owner told a Clark County jury that prosecutors might be able to prove his client was at the scene of the killing but the man who fired the fatal shots remains uncharged.

In his opening arguments, Aaron Daniels' attorney, Christopher Oram, admitted Daniels was at the scene of the May 2003 robbery and slaying of Anthony Limongello, but Oram said he would show several others planned and carried out the killing.

Daniels is charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon. He could face the death penalty if found guilty of murder.

Oram told the jury he would prove Justin Brown, the ex-boyfriend of a 19-year-old drug-addicted woman whom Limongello let live in his home, was the person who "hatched" the plan to rob and kill Limongello. He alleged Julius Bradford, 19, a family friend of Daniels, was the triggerman.

In trying to explain why Limongello had begun using methamphetamine, Deputy District Attorney Pam Weckerly painted a picture of a man who was doing well financially, but perhaps was still grieving over the loss of his father.

It was the decision to use drugs that led Limongello to become friends with Joanna De Los Reyes, a runaway who a week before his death began living with him, according to Weckerly. She said this relationship ultimately led to Limongello's murder.

Weckerly said Reyes' friend Natasha Barker, 20, called Reyes asking for a ride the day of the killing, knowing that Reyes neither had a car nor a license and that Limongello would have to drive to pick her up.

A jury in May convicted Barker of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon in connection with Limongello's death.

When Limongello and Reyes arrived at the 7-Eleven at Rancho and Pyramid drives, where Barker said she would be waiting, Limongello got another call from Barker saying she was behind a nearby strip mall by a yellow truck.

Weckerly said Limongello drove around the strip mall to find Barker talking to a man, whom prosecutors allege was Daniels. After finishing the conversation, Barker got into the rear passenger seat, and Daniels followed her in, wielding a gun, according to Weckerly.

Weckerly said Reyes escaped the car and Natasha ran after her, but Daniels stayed behind to ultimately kill Limongello. After the killing, Weckerly said, Barker and Reyes went back to a house on Pyramid where Brown and Barker's boyfriend, Bobby Harwood, were waiting.

Weckerly said that after the killing Daniels used Limongello's ATM card to take money out of machines at two convenience stores and attempted to use it at Texas Station. She said the video camera at one of the convenience stores showed Daniels "distracting people" while another unidentified man used the ATM card several times.

Oram agreed that Barker called Reyes looking for the ride to "set up" Limongello for the eventual robbery and killing, but says the plan was developed by Brown and carried out by as many as five other people.

Oram said Barker, Bradford, Brown, Harwood and the two owners of the house on Pyramid -- Nelson and Tyrel Rogers -- were all involved, but uncharged in the planning and execution of the plan to rob and kill Limongello.

Additionally, Oram confirmed Daniels was the man captured on tape by the camera at the convenience store, but he said the man using the ATM card was the shooter, Bradford.

Bradford was convicted in May on charges of murder with use of a deadly weapon and attempted robbery with use of a deadly weapon in the killing of 48-year-old Benito Zambrano-Lopez. He was sentenced last week to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

For a few moments on Monday morning it didn't appear Daniels would stand trial as prosecutors offered him a plea agreement, which would have seen eight felony charges whittled down to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Under the deal offered by prosecutors, Daniels would not have faced the death penalty or a life sentence without parole.

Although District Judge Joseph Bonaventure made Daniels aware he felt the deal was more than fair, Daniels opted to go to trial.

The prosecution was to begin its case this morning.