PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Opening statements and testimony were heard today in the “Piazza at Schmidt’s” double
murder trial (see previous story).

Prosecutor Jennifer Selber told jurors that security video of the newly opened “Piazza Navona” apartment building in Northern Liberties showed all of the defendants in three stages: a bungled burglary, a dropped drug deal, and a robbery gone bad that turned into a double murder.

But defense lawyer Christopher Warren says lead defendant Keith Epps was set up by others who were not on trial.

And of the three additional defendants who pleaded guilty last week, Warren says just because they did so doesn’t mean jurors should believe them — especially Donnell Murchison, who escaped the death penalty (see related story).

Murchison was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms.

Another defense lawyer says her client, Edward Daniels, was not the person caught on camera and they have the wrong man.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060