By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Already convicted drug kingpin Kaboni Savage is charged with 12 murders, including the firebombing murders of the family of a witness against him in 2004. But, in opening statements yesterday, Savage’s attorney told the jury the prosecution’s story just is not true. Opening statements resume this morning.

The prosecutor has told the jury Kaboni Savage said the witness’s whole family should die just hours before they were killed. His mother, infant son and four other family members died when their North Philadelphia home was firebombed.

But, Savage’s attorney, Christian Hoey, has made clear the defense will put prosecution witnesses — drug dealers, violent criminals, and murderers — on trial, particularly key witness Lamont Lewis, who has admitted his role in setting the arson fire.

Hoey says Lewis cut the deal of the century. He has admitted to 11 murders, but has avoided the death penalty and could get as little as 40 years for the admitted slaughter of 11 people. Even though he was overheard on tape saying authorities wanted him to lie on somebody about the fire and Hoey says that somebody is Kaboni Savage.