MIAMI (WSVN) - The trial of one of four suspects accused of brutally murdering a Miami security guard continues, Thursday.
Twenty-two-year-old Nathaniel Payne-Collins stands accused of ambushing and killing 50-year-old Robert Nelson. Payne-Collins was the first of the group to go to trial for the senseless killing.
Payne-Collins and three others are accused of fatally shooting Nelson as he patrolled the Hidden Grove apartments, in South Miami-Dade, in his company car, on Aug. 17, 2013.
Nelson was shot nine times and then robbed. He died on the scene.
Prosecutors played surveillance video claiming to show the four men at a convenience store, just minutes before the shooting.
Investigators showed the jury what Nelson was wearing the night of the brutal shooting.
One of the co-defendants, 31-year-old Gregory Lewis, pleaded guilty and is serving 10 years in prison.
On Thursday, Lewis served as a key witness against his former accomplice.
“You plead guilty for your role in the death of Robert Nelson?” asked a female prosecutor.
Lewis replied, “Yes.”
She then asked, “Who shot the victim?” and Lewis replied, “Nate and Q.”
Payne-Collins went by the nickname “Nate,” and “Q” is the nickname of co-defendant 21-year-old Quentin Vicks. The fourth co-defendant in this case is 23-year-old Malik Mills.
Vicks and Mills are still waiting for their day in the court.
Lewis told the jury Vicks fired the first shots at Nelson, and then Payne-Collins pulled out a gun and did the same.
The defense followed up questioning Lewis’ credibility.
Nelson’s father, Bobby Nelson, told 7News he was relieved the time had finally arrived for justice to be served in honor of his late son.
“It’s quite painful to wait this long to wait for justice for my son,” said the father outside of the courtroom. “He’s the only son I had and the only brother she had. It was quite painful, and we hope justice will be served.”
“They took my big brother,” said Nelson’s sister, Adrienne Nelson-Williams. “They took my big brother. What else can I tell you?”
Testimony resumes Friday.
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