The trial involving a murdered University of Tampa student got off to a strange start Thursday morning.

David Williams is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of UT student Ryan McCall, who was shot and killed in August 2009 while walking home from a party.

The defense was set to call its first witness in Williams' trial, an inmate named Rene Garcia Myles. Myles was going to talk about the night McCall was murdered and what he witnessed as the college student was shot to death.

Instead, a different Rene Garcia Myles was brought to the courthouse from jail. His son, who shares his name and apparently also his address, showed up in his place.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says the wrong inmate number was provided by his lawyers.

The mix-up delayed the trial by a few hours.

When the correct Myles finally took the stand, he told jurors he saw a man he knew only as "Rabbit" rob, then shoot at two college kids who were walking home from a party.

Myles told jurors he had never seen Williams in his life. He says he definitely didn't see him the night in August 2009 when the crime occurred.

Myles testified both of the college students appeared drunk as they were walking home.

"Rabbit turns around and fires one shot, pow," just after robbing the students, Myles testified.

However, Myles also said the man who shot at the students ran away with a mask on. Prosecutors say there's no way he can be exactly sure it was "Rabbit" who committed the crime.

But the state argued this star witness has a good reason to lie. Myles was put behind bars for life by the same prosecutor's office that is trying this case.

Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner asked Myles if he would ever commit perjury, and hinted the inmate was just making up the story for retaliation.

"I would never do that," said Myles.

"Well when you're already serving life, what's an extra 10 or 15 years, right?" Pruner asked. "You can't serve extra time when you're dead, isn't that correct?"

Myles insisted again he watched another man commit the crime.

The jury is set to begin deliberations Friday.