Both sides rest in City Grill murder trial

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The prosecution and defense both rested Tuesday at the first degree murder trial of accused City Grill killer Riccardo McCray. The case heads to the jury Thursday week at Erie County Court.

The prosecution rested Tuesday, and not long after that, the defense rested without calling any witnesses. Closing arguments are set for Thursday and the jury could get the case as early as Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the mother of a man slain last September in Buffalo was called to the stand and lashed out at police. Carlotta Lester told jurors, "They killed my son up here for trying to do a good deed. The police is the one who got my child killed."

Carlotta is talking about Ahmen Lester, who according to court testimony, drove McCray from North Carolina back to Buffalo following the City Grill shootings last August. Lester was gunned down in broad daylight on East Ferry Street.

A man that prosecutors describe as McCray's friend was also called to the witness stand. Steven Talley, who was led into court in handcuffs, refused to answer prosecutor James Bargnesi's questions. Prosecutors say Talley and McCray are friends and were at the City Grill together the night of the shootings. At one point, prosecutors asked Tally if he had telephone conversations with McCray after the shootings. Talley answered, "I have nothing to say."

On another matter, one of the counts against the 24-year-old McCray was dismissed by prosecutors. They cited no proof of injury suffered by shooting victim Tilman Ward.

A camera will be allowed in court for closing arguments Thursday morning. The judge also instructed jurors to pack an overnight bag in case deliberations spill over to the next day.