Panama City, Fla. -
A Panama City man has his day in court for the murder of a teenager. 19 year old Markel Latrae Bass allegedly killed 19 year-old Dustin Powell during an armed robbery.
The Assistant State Attorney, Robert Sombathy called up eight witnesses to the stand on Tuesday. Witnesses range from people directly involved with the homicide to those that over heard what happened.
In October 2011, authorities say Bass shot Powell in the head during a drug deal. Bass refused to hand over some cash. Earlier that evening, Powell agreed to meet Bass near the My Place Apartment complex to sell him 100 Lortab pills, a controlled substance similar to Hydrocodone.
In court, Emory Abraham, a witness to the incident testified. According to his testimony, he was the so called ‘talker' in the crime; his duty was to get the pills before Bass showed up with a gun.
"Dustin put his hands up and then he started shaking and talking. Markel asked him to give the money up and he told Markel that he didn't have any money. Dustin then looked like he was going to run and at the same time, he grabbed his right side, as if he had a pistol and Markel just shot him one time." Abraham said.
Abraham admits it was not suppose to result as a murder, rather a robbery.
Sgt. Mark Smith with the Panama City Police Department says he heard a gun shot from a distance, Saturday October 8th, 2011. "It was about 11 PM at night. I was nearby with 3 other uniformed officers investigating an unrelated event. As we were preparing to leave and get into our cars, we heard what would be single gun shot that sounded like it came from the area from the Royal Arms, My Place Apartments." Smith testified
Authorities never came across anything that evening and didn't find Powell until the next day, Sunday. Powell's body was located near a wooded area behind the My Place Apartments Complex.
Wednesday morning the State will call the Medical Examiner as their last witness. Assistant Public Defender Dowgul is expected to call her witnesses after that testimony.
Markel Latrae Bass
Taken on October 9, 2011
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