But after talking to police about 3 a.m. April 14, 2007 and not seeing anything happen, Mr. Jones set about investigating himself.

Prosecutors said he began forcing his way into several homes in the 5100 block of Brookwood Road only to hear his stepson had been shot and shoved in the trunk of a car. They said he then found and moved the getaway car and found and stole the murder weapon - all before police returned to the area shortly after 6 a.m.

Prosecutors said that while Mr. Jones initially wanted the gun so he could seek revenge, he ultimately decided to throw it into some nearby woods.

Mr. Moore, 21, went before a county jury yesterday on first-degree murder charges in the apparent death of Mr. Francis, even though police still have not found Mr. Francis' body. It is the second such trial for Mr. Moore, with the first ending in a mistrial in March.

Several eyewitnesses to the shooting and the events of that night - including Mr. Jones - are expected to testify over the next two weeks.

But District Public Defender William Davis said in his opening statements yesterday they can't be trusted. He noted how Mr. Jones and Teiko Johnson, who claims he was beaten by Mr. Moore shortly before the alleged murder, spoke to police at 3 a.m. without mentioning the gun or shots fired.

Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence Caporale said members of that Brooklyn Park community don't usually call 911.

"These people don't normally talk to police," he said. "They try to deal with their problems on their own."

In time, however, he said several community members came forward and explained to police how Mr. Moore shot Mr. Francis with a black assault rifle, shoved his body in the trunk of a Toyota Solara, and drive off.

Among the witnesses expected to testify:

Two teenage boys who saw the shooting from inside 5102 Brookwood Road.

Several other people who witnessed Mr. Moore use a black 9mm assault rifle to beat Mr. Johnson inside that house.

An 11-year-old girl who saw Mr. Francis kissing Mr. Moore's girlfriend shortly before the shooting.

Mr. Caporale said Mr. Moore confessed to a friend he caught Mr. Francis with his girlfriend, put him in his trunk and threw his body off the Bay Bridge.

And Mr. Moore also incriminated himself upon his arrest in Baltimore when he threatened police and told them his girlfriend wasn't loyal, Mr. Caporale said.

"Respect me and you'll live longer," Mr. Caporale said Mr. Moore told police.

Mr. Davis said there are "major inconsistencies" in the eyewitness' stories.

He argued Mr. Johnson wasn't injured enough to have been beaten with the butt of a rifle. He also said DNA taken from the rifle was not from Mr. Moore and that Mr. Jones' decision to steal the gun shows he can't be trusted.

"Something happened in that house, but not what they say," said Mr. Davis.

This is the second trial for Mr. Moore. Circuit Court Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch declared a mistrial in March after a state witness testified the Toyota Solara Mr. Moore was driving the day of the killing was stolen from Russell Toyota in Baltimore.

The judge said in March the jury could conclude that Mr. Moore stole the car, even though he never was charged with the crime and an employee of Russell Toyota is under investigation for insurance fraud in connection with the theft.

Judge Jaklitsch also sanctioned the State's Attorney's Office in February for withholding from defense attorneys the addresses of several key witnesses to the murder. Over the objections of the defense, she still allowed the four witnesses to testify.