COCOA, Fla. — The main witness in the trial of a man accused of murdering a former beauty queen in 2006 described to jurors Tuesday how the victim died.
Officials said Darice Knowles, 22 years old at the time of her death, was buried alive and covered with concrete in a wooded area off State Road 524 in Cocoa.
Christopher Pratt, the ex-boyfriend of the victim, told jurors that Vahtiece Kirkman planned the murder.
Pratt has already confessed to his role in the murder and took a plea deal that required him to testify.
He said he and Kirkman were upset that Knowles went on a date with a Cocoa police officer and that Kirkman was concerned that Knowles was going to tell him about his involvement in the murder of Willie Parker two weeks earlier, for which he is already serving a life sentence.
"At that point in time, my intention was to take (Knowles) to the airport," Pratt said.
Pratt said he wanted to send Knowles back to the Bahamas, but Kirkman had other plans.
"(Kirkman) told me to tie up (Knowles), which I did. I tied her feet up and I gagged her. (I) used the duct tape to tie her mouth up," Pratt said.
Prosecutors showed a video showing Kirkman leaving a Home Depot with a shovel, cement and duct tape.
Pratt said Kirkman had a gun and ordered him to dig a hole and throw Knowles in while she was still alive. Pratt said he was told to cover her with concrete.
Pratt said Knowles' eyes were open, and she had a terrified look on her face.
Defense attorneys argued Kirkman didn't commit the murder and Pratt did because he was upset Knowles was sleeping with someone else.
If convicted, Kirkman could be sent to death row.