TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) – A man charged in the 2008 death of BP carryout clerk Matthew Dugan finally went on trial Monday. Before the trial began, Anthony Belton changed his plea on all three charges from not guilty to no contest.
Belton is charged with aggravated murder and two counts of aggravated robbery.
The shooting was caught on surveillance video at the gas station located at Dorr and Secor near the University of Toledo. The tape shows Belton walking in and out of the store several times, until there were no other customers around.
Belton robbed Dugan, 34, and then shot him in the head after he turned his back. Prosecutors played the 911 call from the morning of the murder in court. A woman had found Dugan's body after going into the store.
Tony Bivens and Dymon Bolton are currently serving prison time for their roles in the incident, and they are expected to take the stand.
After Belton changed his plea, his attorneys asked that the gun specification be removed from the charges. The three-judge panel denied the request.
Opening statements have already begun and testimonies should follow. After testimonies finish, the judges will render a verdict and then move on to the sentencing phase.
Although Belton is no longer contesting the charges against him, a hearing will still be held to assess his guilt. It is unclear if that hearing will go forward Monday, or be scheduled for sometime in the future.
If convicted, Belton faces the death penalty.
The courtroom was full of people Monday, including Dugan's family.
