Mattapan quadruple murder trial begins

BOSTON (WHDH) -- The murder trial of two men accused of taking part in the 2010 killings of a toddler and three adults during a drug robbery gone wrong began on Thursday.

Suffolk County prosecutors said the defendants, 34-year-old Dwayne Moore and 32-year-old Edward Washington, gunned down five people in cold blood during a robbery of drugs and money. The youngest victim was 2-year-old Amanihotep Smith - highlighted in the prosecutor's opening statement.

“Literally in his mother’s arms when a madman with a gun opened fire, raking her body with gunfire. Her body raked with gunfire, bullets literally going through her arms,” said Prosecutor Ed Zabin.

Family members watched sobbing; some had to leave the courtroom to collect themselves.

The murders happened in late September 2010 in Mattapan. Thursday morning the jurors got a look at 23 Sutton Street, where murder victim Simba Martin lived.

It's alleged Moore and Washington forced Martin to strip naked outside, then eventually murdered him - along with his girlfriend Eyanna Flonory and her little boy.

Two other men, LeVaughn Washum-Garrison and Marcus Hurd were also there. Only Hurd survived. He will testify from a wheelchair. Prosecutors said three men went to commit the robbery, one - Eddie Washington’s cousin - has cut a deal and will testify against the two defendants.

“Kimani Washington, not to put too fine a point on it, is a criminal. He’s a man who lives by the code of the street,” Zabin said.

“He’s a liar. He’d lie to anybody, anytime, any day, anywhere. In his prison records there are five different women listed as his fiancé,” said John Amabile, defense attorney.

The defense said there is no evidence that links their two clients to the murder. They also said Kimani Washington is simply out to save his own skin.

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