Jury deliberates in Mobley murder trial

Stephen Mobley speaks to his defense attorney Zack Newman during his murder trial in Division 1 Criminal Court on Friday, February 13, 2015. Mobley is charged with murder and attempted murder in the 2012 shooting death of Gregory Watkins at a Brainerd gas station.
Stephen Mobley speaks to his defense attorney Zack Newman during his murder trial in Division 1 Criminal Court on Friday, February 13, 2015. Mobley is charged with murder and attempted murder in the 2012 shooting death of Gregory Watkins at a Brainerd gas station.

Friday wrapped up testimony in the murder trial of Stephen Mobley, 31, the man charged with shooting Lashonda Gonzalez and killing Gregory Watkins at a Brainerd Road gas station in 2012.

Mobley is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

In the case that Assistant District Attorney Lance Pope presented to the jury, Mobley set out to shoot Watkins because he was dissatisfied with the quality of cocaine Watkins had sold him a few weeks before. Mobley's cousin, Constance Taylor, set up the deal and arranged to trade back the drugs.

Taylor said Thursday she didn't know Mobley would shoot Watkins and Gonzalez as they sat in a car, but she saw Mobley put on a Bob Marley-style wig, pull a gun and fire on them before running away.

"Mr. Mobley knew exactly what he was going to do that evening," Pope said.

But Taylor's admitted dishonesty became a pillar of attorney Charles Wysong's defense.

Taylor originally told police she saw the shooting from a turn lane by the gas station. Later, she changed her story and named Mobley. Wysong and attorney Zack Newman argued that she only mentioned him when she became afraid prosecutors would charge her as an accomplice.

"She doesn't want justice," Wysong said during closing arguments. "She wants her deal. That's reasonable doubt."

Wysong also pointed out throughout the trial that Gonzalez initially identified a different man, Stephen Hill, as the shooter, picking him out of a photo lineup. Hill's girlfriend testified Friday that he was with her that whole night, but Wysong also suggested the man's twin brother, Stephan Hill, could have been responsible.

He asked Chattanooga Police Department Detective Lucas Fuller about text messages in the victim's phone that were never identified, in an attempt to create some doubt about other drug-related contacts.

Pope said in his closing argument that Gonzalez was high and affected by the stress of the incident.

"She's not doing anything intentionally wrong," Pope said. "She's just mistaken."

Wysong called just one witness, Dale Mason, who described being at the gas station that night and seeing a man with dark skin and dreadlocks ran away from the scene.

Mason said the man was wearing a Marley-style hat, but then said he never provided police with that detail.

Mobley chose not to testify.

The jury began deliberating about 4 p.m. and deliberated for nearly six hours, breaking just before 9:45 Friday night. They will return to deliberate Monday morning.

Contact staff writer Claire Wisemanat cwiseman@timesfreepress.comor 423-757-6347. Follow her on Twitter@clairelwiseman.

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