SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (May 15) - Jesse James Hollywood ordered the murder of a 15-year-old boy after kidnapping him to force the teen's half-brother to pay a $1,200 drug debt, a prosecutor said Friday during opening statements in the case that was made into the 2007 movie "Alpha Dog."
Deputy District Attorney Joshua Lynn told the jury he will present evidence proving Hollywood was the mastermind behind the crimes.
Hollywood killed Nicholas Markowitz "like he pulled the trigger himself," Lynn said. "The evidence will show Mr. Hollywood is a ruthless coward."
Hollywood, 29, sat between his two defense attorneys wearing a black suit and red tie. Susan Markowitz, the mother of the victim, also was in the packed courtroom.
Hollywood has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
Defense attorney James Blatt said in his opening statements Friday that his client didn't direct anyone to kill Nicholas and wasn't present when the teen was shot and buried near Santa Barbara.
"This case never involved a shred of evidence of extortion or ransom," he told jurors.
Lynn told the jury that the victim was a troubled teen trying to find his place in life while smoking marijuana and fighting with his parents.
Prosecutors believe Nicholas was kidnapped by Hollywood and his cohorts in August 2000 just blocks from his home to put pressure on his half-brother Ben Markowitz to repay money he owed Hollywood for drugs.
Authorities have said Nicholas partied with his captors in the days following his abduction and felt he wasn't in any danger. Blatt said Friday that Nicholas could have walked away from his captors numerous times.
Lynn presented a timeline of events surrounding the crime and said he planned to call witnesses who will testify about Hollywood's role. He also said Hollywood provided the gun that killed Nicholas and the car used to drive him to the gravesite.
Hollywood decided to get rid of Nicholas after learning from an attorney that he could face life in prison for kidnapping, prosecutors have said.
Lynn likened Hollywood's role to a football offensive coordinator who sits far from the field and calls the plays. Lynn said Hollywood ate dinner with his girlfriend at a Los Angeles steakhouse while Nicholas was murdered and buried.
But Blatt said his client "is not a mastermind."
He said Ben Markowitz was jealous over Hollywood's success and left messages threatening to kill him and his family. Blatt acknowledged his client was "no angel" but said that he had been unfairly demonized in "Alpha Dog" and by prosecutors.
Four co-defendants have been convicted, including gunman Ryan Hoyt, who was sentenced to death.
Hollywood fled after the killing and was finally captured more than four years later on a beach in Brazil.
The case stalled for years after it was learned that Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen had turned over probation reports, police files and other documents to Nick Cassavetes, who directed "Alpha Dog," starring Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake.
Zonen said in court documents that he gave the files to Cassavetes to help publicize the hunt for Hollywood.
An appeals court removed Zonen, but the state's highest court and the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that he and the district attorney's office could stay on the case. However, Lynn was assigned to take it over.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
Deputy District Attorney Joshua Lynn told the jury he will present evidence proving Hollywood was the mastermind behind the crimes.
Hollywood killed Nicholas Markowitz "like he pulled the trigger himself," Lynn said. "The evidence will show Mr. Hollywood is a ruthless coward."
Hollywood, 29, sat between his two defense attorneys wearing a black suit and red tie. Susan Markowitz, the mother of the victim, also was in the packed courtroom.
Hollywood has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
Defense attorney James Blatt said in his opening statements Friday that his client didn't direct anyone to kill Nicholas and wasn't present when the teen was shot and buried near Santa Barbara.
"This case never involved a shred of evidence of extortion or ransom," he told jurors.
Lynn told the jury that the victim was a troubled teen trying to find his place in life while smoking marijuana and fighting with his parents.
Prosecutors believe Nicholas was kidnapped by Hollywood and his cohorts in August 2000 just blocks from his home to put pressure on his half-brother Ben Markowitz to repay money he owed Hollywood for drugs.
Authorities have said Nicholas partied with his captors in the days following his abduction and felt he wasn't in any danger. Blatt said Friday that Nicholas could have walked away from his captors numerous times.
Lynn presented a timeline of events surrounding the crime and said he planned to call witnesses who will testify about Hollywood's role. He also said Hollywood provided the gun that killed Nicholas and the car used to drive him to the gravesite.
Hollywood decided to get rid of Nicholas after learning from an attorney that he could face life in prison for kidnapping, prosecutors have said.
Lynn likened Hollywood's role to a football offensive coordinator who sits far from the field and calls the plays. Lynn said Hollywood ate dinner with his girlfriend at a Los Angeles steakhouse while Nicholas was murdered and buried.
But Blatt said his client "is not a mastermind."
He said Ben Markowitz was jealous over Hollywood's success and left messages threatening to kill him and his family. Blatt acknowledged his client was "no angel" but said that he had been unfairly demonized in "Alpha Dog" and by prosecutors.
Four co-defendants have been convicted, including gunman Ryan Hoyt, who was sentenced to death.
Hollywood fled after the killing and was finally captured more than four years later on a beach in Brazil.
The case stalled for years after it was learned that Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen had turned over probation reports, police files and other documents to Nick Cassavetes, who directed "Alpha Dog," starring Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake.
Zonen said in court documents that he gave the files to Cassavetes to help publicize the hunt for Hollywood.
An appeals court removed Zonen, but the state's highest court and the U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that he and the district attorney's office could stay on the case. However, Lynn was assigned to take it over.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.
