Tucker Cipriano Trial: Accused killers in family slaying divided up who they would kill, friend says

(CBS/WWJ) FARMINGTON HILLS - Tucker Cipriano and Mitchell Young, accused in a baseball attack that killed Cipriano's father and critically injured his mother and brother, planned to kill a family weeks before the attack, a witness testified. Wednesday was the first day of testimony in the preliminary trial of Tucker Cipriano, CBS Detroit reports.

According to the station, 20-year-old Ian Zinderman, a friend of both suspects, testified that the pair had debated between killing the Ciprianos and another local family before deciding the Ciprianos "had more wealth."

Tucker Cipriano's father Bob Cipriano was killed in the attack, which also left mother Rose Cipriano and 17-year-old Salvatore Cipriano critically injured.

Tanner Cipriano, 17, and Isabella Cipriano, 8, were unharmed. Zinderman testified that Tucker Cipriano told Young during planning sessions he would have to kill his sister. Cipriano couldn't do it himself because he "loved his sister," Zinderman said.

"They decided on going to the Cipriano house and killing the family ... I heard one of them, I don't remember who said it ... They were talking about how, which family members should be taken care of, who would take of which family member," Zinderman said, according to CBS Detroit.

Cipriano allegedly said he would kill his brothers while Young killed the mother and father and his sister. "They discussed that the father was going to go first, he was bigger," Zinderman said, adding that they planned to weigh down the bodies and throw them in the Detroit River.

Zinderman reportedly claims he told them he wanted no part of the crime and insisted that they drop him off at a friend's house. 

Zinderman was was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony, CBS Detroit reports.

More on Crimesider:
April 16, 2012 - Tucker Robert Cipriano, arrested for allegedly killing his father, injuring two others in Michigan home attack