Trial begins for man charged in Suffolk slaying

SUFFOLK

John Price Jr. was delivering newspapers two blocks from the downtown police headquarters at 4 a.m. on July 8, 2009, when he was shot in the head by a would-be robber.

A resident of the neighborhood told investigators he heard gunshots, looked out the window, and saw a man running into the predawn darkness.

The resident ran outside to find the 50-year-old Price lying in the street next to his idling van, a copy of The Virginian-Pilot clutched in his hand.

The man accused of pulling the trigger, Christopher J. Artis, went on trial Tuesday on charges of capital murder, robbery, attempted robbery and other felony charges. Prosecutors are seeking life in prison for Artis.

It took police more than a year to charge Artis, who is now 21, with Price's murder. He was indicted in June 2010, based in part on the testimony of inmates at Western Tidewater Regional Jail who said Artis, while serving time there on an unrelated larceny conviction, boasted of committing the crime.

During opening arguments, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Will H. Jamerson said testimony and evidence would show "beyond a reasonable doubt that Christopher Artis is guilty of murder."

Defense attorney Douglas Ramseur told jurors that Artis is wrongly accused and that prosecutors have found "no hard, factual evidence" linking Artis to the crime.

"The only thing that's going to link Christopher Artis to this crime is the testimony of felons," Ramseur said.

The trial is expected to run into early next week.

Jeff Sheler, 757-222-5563, jeff.sheler@pilotonline.com