Trial Begins In Montgomery County Home Invasion Killing
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A murder trial is underway in Montgomery County for three Philadelphia men accused of shooting and killing a man in his Huntington Valley home because -- prosecutors say -- his daughter was trying to end an abusive relationship.
Prosecutor Tom McGoldrick says on the day of the murder, defendant Naadir Abdul-Ali told his ex-girlfriend "If we can't be together, someone has got to go."
About 11 hours later, four men stormed her Lower Moreland house on the 2300 block of Philmont Avenue. As the 18-year-old hid in the closet with her one-year-old son, her father, 53-year-old Kevin Brown, confronted the men in the hallway. Five shots were fired, one hitting Brown in the throat and killing him.
One of the co-defendants, Mujahid Matthews, entered an open-plea to third degree murder and other charges in exchange for his testimony.
The remaining three -- Abdul-Ali, Desmond Smith and Abdurrahman Amin -- turned down the plea and are being tried on second and third degree murder together.
Abdul-Ali's attorney says it was the daughter's plan: She wanted to be back with Abdul-Ali, but her parents wouldn't let her, so she had the men break in to kidnap her.
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