Brogan Rafferty took the witness stand in his own defense Tuesday morning in the Craigslist murder case, telling jurors he cooperated in the killing of three men out of fear of his co-defendant, Richard Beasley.
Rafferty, 17, a former Stow-Munroe Falls High School student, was questioned by his attorney, John Alexander, for nearly two hours in Summit County Common Pleas Court.
The teenager said he didn’t expect the first killing, which unfolded before his eyes Aug. 9, when he said Beasley killed Ralph Geiger in rural Noble County.
Rafferty said Beasley threatened to kill his mother and sister if he spoke of the slaying.
He also told jurors that prior to the killing he trusted Beasley, whom he described as his “spirtual mentor” and a family friend.
“I though he was a great guy,” Rafferty said. “He was like the father I never had.”
Prosecutors began their cross examination of Rafferty after the lunch break Tuesday afternoon.
The teen faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder and attempted murder, for the deaths of Geiger and two other men and the wounding of a fourth man. The victims had answered Craigslist ads last year for a nonexistent farm job in Noble County.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.