Jury selected in Va. Beach detective's killing

VIRGINIA BEACH

Jurors will begin hearing opening arguments Wednesday morning in the trial of a man accused of arranging an ill-fated drug transaction that ended in the shooting death of an undercover police detective.

Marshall Demetrius Moyd, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and two counts of using a firearm in a felony. Moyd pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors withdrew a marijuana possession charge.

Jury selection wrapped up about 6 p.m. today after more than five hours.

Moyd’s co-defendant, Ted Vincent Carter, briefly took the stand earlier in the day. Carter, who is serving a life sentence without parole for capital murder for his role in the case, was subpoenaed to testify at Moyd's trial by both the prosecution and the defense but said he does not plan to cooperate.

"I'm going to refuse to answer any questions," Carter said.

Detective Michael Phillips planned to buy a half pound of marijuana from a drug dealer called “Pep” in an undercover operation at the Green Run Square Shopping Center the evening of Aug. 7, 2008.

Pep, whom police later identified as Moyd, met with Phillips in his pickup before leaving briefly – purportedly to retrieve the drugs, according to testimony at Carter’s sentencing hearing in February. While he was gone, officers watching and listening nearby testified they saw Moyd meet with Carter before returning to Phillips’ truck.

Soon after, Carter pulled up in an SUV and opened fire on Phillips, who died at the scene.

Moyd’s trial could last for two weeks, prosecutors said.