The mother and the former boyfriend of a teen murder victim took the stand Wednesday in the trial of the man accused of killing two Port Tampa teens in 2011.
Charles Waits, now 21, is one of two suspects charged in the shooting death of Kiara Brito, 16, and her 13-year-old brother, Jeremi.
Prosecutors say Waits and Tavari Grant went to the Port Tampa home to rob the family because they knew the teenagers sold marijuana and designer watches. The teens were both shot in the head. Kiara died at the home, her brother died at the hospital.
Kiara Brito's Robinson High School boyfriend J.J. Hubbard testified Wednesday about the business his girlfriend ran and how she knew her alleged killer.
"We talked about everything, told each other everything, did everything together," said Hubbard, a former Robinson football star who flew home from college in North Carolina to testify. "She was like a best friend."
Hubbard also was asked if he saw Brito sell marijuana. He said yes, adding that she sold drugs from home.
Hubbard told the jury he saw Brito hours before the murders. Witnesses say they saw Waits running from the Brito home after the murders. Waits says he was forced at gunpoint by another man to participate in the murders.
The mother of the murdered teens, Judy Brito, briefly took the stand Wednesday.
Brito was spending the night at her boyfriend’s house that night. She cried just before she told the jury about the last time she talked to her son.
Brito went on to say she asked 13-year-old Jeremi to drive back home from his friend’s house—the youngster was known to drive his mother’ BMW.
“Kiara doesn’t like to sleep by herself. So I told Jeremi to get home so she wouldn’t have to be home by herself,” Brito said.
Just an hour later, both of her children were dead.
Prosecutors only asked her about property stolen from the home. The defense attorneys did not ask her any questions.
If Waits is convicted, he could face life in prison.
Grant is expected to go to trial to later in the year.