THOUSAND OAKS : 3 Witnesses Tell How Teen Brandished Gun

Three teen-agers testified Tuesday against a 17-year-old Thousand Oaks youth accused of accidentally shooting and killing his girlfriend, saying the youth had been brandishing the weapon for as long as a month before the deadly shooting July 13.

Alfredo Morales, 18, said the defendant had pointed the gun at his head the day before the death of 16-year-old Jacqueline Reay, who was shot in the eye at close range.

“He pulled the gun out and he pointed it at my head” for about 30 seconds, Morales said in juvenile court testimony. “Then he said, ‘What would you do if I pulled the trigger?’

“Then I said, ‘Don’t.’ Then I heard him pull the trigger.” The gun was empty, he said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn asked Morales, one of half a dozen prosecution witnesses Tuesday, if he were frightened when the gun was pointed at him. “When I heard that trigger click, that’s when I got scared,” Morales testified.

Other witnesses recalled similar stories about the defendant. The defense is expected to begin putting on its case today. The defendant is charged with one count of murder, one count of brandishing a firearm and three counts of assault. He has admitted to one count of brandishing a firearm and two counts of assault.

At one point in court Tuesday, the defendant seemed on the verge of tears as Glynn read aloud the autopsy report describing Reay’s injury.

Under cross-examination, several witnesses acknowledged that the defendant and Reay considered themselves a couple and often could be seen hugging and kissing. Defense attorney Victor Furio suggested that such testimony shows the defendant had no ill-will toward Reay.

Prosecutors agreed that the shooting was accidental, but have said the defendant should have known the deadly consequences of pointing a loaded gun at people.