WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Trial begins for man accused of killing Toledo cyclist

Trial begins for man accused of killing Toledo cyclist

Reported by Lisa Rantala email

Posted by Kate Oatis email

TOLEDO (WTOL) - Dounche Jones, accused of killing a man who was riding his bike to work to save money on gas, was in court Monday, the first day of his trial.

Prosecutors say the killing was an execution. The defense says they have the wrong man and that the defendant's arrest was brought on by pressure from city hall.

Regardless, the crime left David Babcock -- a father and fiance -- dead on a Western Ave. sidewalk.

"David Babcock bought a bike. He bought a bike so he could ride it to work and save money on gas," prosecutor Michael Bohner said in court. "And at 5:45 in the morning... he met his fate and that's when he met Dounche Jones."

A neighbor said he looked out the window and saw Babcock on his knees get shot in the face by a man.

"I heard, 'I'll f-in' shoot ya.' The guy that was on the ground said 'f you' and the guy shot him," testified witness Ronald Gladiuex.

The neighbor says the suspect ran but that he never saw his face.

The defense contends detectives pointed at the wrong man: his client, Dounche Jones.

"We believe the evidence is going to show that people pointed to Dounche for various reasons," said attorney Paul Geller.

But prosecutors say it was Jones himself who bragged about the crime -- even to his mother. He also bragged, they said, out in public.

As for Jones' DNA and matching bloody shoe print found at the crime scene, the defense says it's circumstantial.

At the time of his arrest, police say Jones admitted to being a gang member and may have killed Babcock because he was on his turf.

If found guilty, 19-year-old Jones could face life behind bars.