JEFFERSON COUNTY — Attorneys have given their opening arguments in the first-degree murder trial of a 25-year-old Mt. Vernon man, after spending nearly three days on jury selection.

According to the prosecution, Dewayne Moore tried to burn bloody sheets and other evidence after he shot his friend Cortez Picket once in the left eye at point-blank range.

Moore is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with Pickett’s shooting death last year at Pickett’s Mt. Vernon home.

After burning the sheets and other evidence in the country, Moore and another man allegedly were returning to the scene of the crime, but Moore reportedly crashed his car into a ditch and fled the crash on foot.

He was ultimately arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident after the car was found. A sheet with Pickett’s blood on it was allegedly found near the car. Moore was in jail for leaving the scene of that accident when he was charged with Pickett’s murder.

The defense argued that the prosecution’s case depends on the credibility of witnesses, including four men – two who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the shooting and two who have changed their stories since first questioned.

It was also argued that two of the men are convicted felons and two are currently facing felony charges.

A weapon has not been recovered in the case. Testimony is set to resume today, and the jury is scheduled to return next week with testimony continuing at least through Wednesday.