Opening statements and testimony began Aug. 15 in the first degree murder trial of Nathan Johnson. Johnson is accused of participating in the brutal Jan. 14, 2016 Lakeland murder of 31 year-old Robert Banks. Johnson was 16 at the time of the murder.

  • Johnson accused along with 3 other defendants
  • Prosecution states victim lured into trap under guise of drug deal
  • Other defendants face trials at later dates

Prosecutors said Nathan Johnson, along with his older brothers, Brian and Anthony Johnson, and their friend Michael Gunn tricked Banks into coming to their mobile home under the guise of making a drug deal. Their true intent, according to the state, was to attack him for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman they knew.

Prosecutors said once Banks got inside the mobile home, the suspects kicked him, beat him with their fists and a pipe. They are also accused of sexually assaulting him and choking him with an electrical cord.

Prosecutor Mark Levine also told jurors that Nathan Johnson took cell phone pictures of Banks after he was dead.

"And this man took pictures," said Levine. "Not one picture. Not two pictures, but multiple pictures and from different angles too. This man got plenty of pictures of Mr. Banks' face, him face down, of him in a sexually abused position because he wanted a memory of what he did."

Authorities said the four suspects then got Nathan Johnson’s father to drive with several of them to Sumter County, where they dumped Banks’ body in a wildlife management area and set it on fire. It was later discovered by hikers.

Defense attorney Joshua Wescott tried to cast doubt about Nathan Johnson’s role in the murder.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time in a bad circumstance," said Wescott. "Not to say that the actions that were carried out by Mr. Nathan Johnson were necessarily appropriate."

Banks's mother Debbie Gardner traveled from her home in Alabama for the trial. She said it was difficult being in court and hearing the horrible details of the case.

"I know I have to do this for justice for my child,” she said. “I have to do this for any mother out there that won't have to go through anything like this."

The other three defendants in the murder face trials at later dates.