Trial continues for suspect in murder of Colorado Springs auto shop owner

Friday marks the eighth day in the jury trial of Eric Grant, one of two men accused of murder in the death of Colorado Springs auto store owner George Maldonado, Sr.

In the proceedings, family filled the aisles as Grant sat next to his defense attorneys, who stood by their argument that Grant isn’t the one in the surveillance video showing Maldonado’s death, because Grant has tattoos on his arm while the man in the video doesn’t.

Three witnesses took the stand Friday. The first two were detectives George Piornne and Timothy Bass, from Philadelphia. Both helped find and arrest Grant in Pennsylvania.

During their testimony, they explained that while asking Grant for general information such as personal identification, he made a comment that sparked their attention, saying, “I’m on the run from Colorado, do you think I have identification?”

Grant was also heard saying, “I want as little contact with you guys as possible and I definitely don’t want you to know who I am.”

The most notable part of the trial Friday, however, was the surveillance video showing the two suspects surprising Maldonado and his friend down the hallway. In the video, you cannot see much, but you can see the two men dressed as construction workers kicking something on the ground. You can then see them walk back toward the computer and one man walking back down the hallway.

According to Detective Steve Aleno, who also took the stand, he believes this man is Eric Grant. During opening statements last Thursday, the two men in the video were said to have stomped on Maldonado’s head repeatedly.

During the video, the family was in tears, having to relive the death of their loved one. They told us they are heartbroken to see their family member murdered, but they look forward to the final verdict. They told us they will speak with us at that point.

The attorneys believe closing statements will happen on Monday.