OXNARD : Murder Trial Starts for 21-Year-Old

A 21-year-old man accused of shooting his sister’s estranged boyfriend and killing the boyfriend’s cousin in a normally placid south Oxnard neighborhood went on trial Tuesday for murder and attempted premeditated murder.

A prosecutor told a Ventura County Superior Court jury that Zolly Terry Jr. of Oxnard showed no mercy on his victims and should be convicted of both felonies.

Terry walked into a Friedrich Lane apartment Oct. 24 and opened fire, critically wounding Vernon Hunter and killing Jerome Hurst, Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison said. The defendant was upset that Hunter, 27, had broken off a relationship with Terry’s sister, who was pregnant by the victim, Ellison said.

But Terry’s attorney gave the jury a different version of events. Terry had gone to the apartment for the sole purpose of collecting money for his sister from Hunter, defense lawyer Steve Pell said.

Terry shot the victims only after Hurst, 25, made a threatening move toward him. Pell described Hurst as a violent gang member and said Terry is nonviolent.

“The evidence will show that Mr. Zolly Terry Jr. is a very peaceful man,” Pell said.

Before the first witness took the stand, Acting Superior Court Judge Steven Hintz questioned the jury after several spectators made loud remarks about the case as jurors were taking a break in the courthouse hallway.

“It’s hard to convince some people that this is a court of law instead of the Geraldo Rivera show,” Hintz told jurors, who said they did not hear the remarks. “Just try and stay away from people with big mouths.”