The trial of Victor Trezevant, the man accused of killing University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford in 2007, began on Tuesday in Memphis.
Trezevant is one of four men charged in the robbery and murder of Bradford, but at issue is whether Trezevant is the man who fired the fatal shot that killed the Tigers’ football player.
Devin Jefferson, one of the other men charged in Bradford’s murder, has already been convicted. Jefferson is serving a term of life imprisonment for his part in the murder and attempted robbery.
The prosecution contends that Trezevant is the person who actually fired the shot that killed Bradford. Both sides agreed that defendant Daeshawn Tate flagged down Bradford as Bradford drove his car.
Prosecutor Ray Lepone said, “Victor Trezevant cocks his gun and goes to the passenger side (of Bradford’s car), and puts the weapon inside to rob Taylor, and the trigger is pulled.”
Victor Trezevant
But defense attorney William Massey said in his opening argument that Jefferson is the man responsible for firing the fatal shot.
“Devin Jefferson comes up,” said Massey, “sticks his hand in and pow – Taylor Bradford then hit the gas and takes off.”
But the prosecutor contends that Jefferson was not even at the scene of the crime.
Because of arrest times and dates, the defense believes that co-defendants Tate and Courtney Washington conspired to change accounts of what took place hoping to receive reduced sentences.
“They decided to throw Victor Trezevant under the bus instead of Devin Jefferson and that’s what they told police,” said Massey.
Robbery was apparently never a motive in the crime, with $7,400 Bradford had won at a Tunica casino left in the vehicle.
The trial is not expected to take long, with the prosecution and defense indicating they intend to call approximately 20 witnesses to the stand.
