A local man is waiting to learn how many years he'll spend in prison for robbing, then dragging and killing a 76-year-old woman with his truck.
The sentencing hearing is now under way for 29-year-old Rogelio Belmonte.
Prosecutors gave their opening argument Tuesday morning, then witnesses began testifying.
Belmonte has already told a judge he’s guilty of the murder of Sabra Leavy, 76.
Prosecutors say jurors will hear jail phone calls and letters from the defendant. There’s a key piece of evidence jurors will see: the March 2011 surveillance video from the Forest Lane Wal-Mart parking lot.
Police say it's tough to watch what unfolds. Belmonte lures her to the window of the truck with it still in drive. Belmonte snatches her purse. At first Leavy runs along the truck, then the 97 pound, 5 feet 2 inch tall victim is dragged under the vehicle and run over by the back tires.
Witnesses said Belmonte, and his passenger and then-girlfriend, Kaitlin Edmonson, took off laughing and left Leavy to die.
Edmonson’s mom said her daughter had been on methamphetamine at the time, now she’ll testify against her ex-boyfriend.
“She’s very sorry for what happened. Ms. Leavy didn't deserve this and is the one who deserves justice today,” said Terri Edmonson, Kaitlin's mother.
“They went to Wal-Mart to go steal, obviously Roger or Kaitlin never intended to hurt anybody. It happened. They have to accept responsibility,” said Tonja Kohler, Kaitlin Edmonson’s Aunt.
Kaitlin Edmonson is still facing robbery charges.
Belmonte could get five years in prison up to a life sentence for Leavy's murder. The hearing is expected to take several days.
