BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- The prosecution's opening statement in the trial of a Georgia man on trial in the 2007 molestation and slaying of a 6-year-old Christopher Barrios contained a graphic description of the boy's final days and hours.
David Edenfield, 61, is the first of three suspects to be tried in the Barrios' slaying, whose body was found wrapped in a trash bag and dumped by a road in 2007 -- one week after he disappeared.
Prosecutor John Johnson told jurors as the trial began Wednesday that the boy was stripped and sexually assaulted by Edenfield and his grown son in their mobile home.
"Christopher Barrios didn't want to be there. He told them to let him go. He said, 'I want to leave; let me go; don't do this; I'm going to tell my parents,'" Johnson said in his opening statement.
Johnson said Edenfield admitted in a taped statement to police that he helped his son choke the boy to death. He said Edenfield got sexual satisfaction from killing the child.
Edenfield's son, George, and wife, Peggy, are awaiting trial on related charges.
Edenfield's attorney, James Yancey, said Edenfield's confession was influenced by police questioning him, but he stopped short of saying Edenfield was coerced.
"You'll see the manner and and you'll see the mode in which the officer questioned him," Yancey said.
The first prosecution witness was Christopher's father, who called 911 when his son didn't come home that night.
"I told them my son hasn't come home and it's dark and he's missing," Barrios said.
A light-saber toy Christopher had been playing with was found outside the Edenfield's mobile home.
A massive search was mounted that began in the mobile home park that night and eventually covered all of Glynn County.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against both David and George Edenfield, but not Peggy, who has agreed to testify against her husband and son.
Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett and attorneys for both sides spent more than a week picking a jury from residents of rural Jeff Davis County, 90 miles northwest of Brunswick. The judge held jury selection outside of Brunswick because of pretrial publicity, but the case is being heard at the Glynn County Courthouse.
The jury selection of 12 jurors and two alternates was completed Tuesday afternoon. Jurors will be sequestered in Brunswick for the duration of the trial.
Previous Stories: - September 27, 2009: Jury Selection Continues For Murder Trial
- September 21, 2009: Jury Being Picked For Boy's Slaying Trial
- September 15, 2009: Evaluation Ordered Of Boy's Accused Killer
- August 27, 2009: Edenfield Trial To Begin Next Month
- August 14, 2009: Trial Delayed In Brunswick Boy's Slaying
- March 13, 2009: Christopher Barrios Remembered 2 Years After Slaying
- March 12, 2009: Money Crunch Delays Edenfield Murder Trial
- February 5, 2009: First Trial In Boy's Slaying Set
- August 29, 2008: David Edenfield Wants Murder, Molesting Charges Dismissed
- June 26, 2008: Man Pleads Guilty To Charges Connected To 6-Year-Old's Slaying
- June 9, 2008: Trial Set For Man Accused Of Hiding Boy's Body
- June 5, 2008: Suspect In Boy's Slaying Withdraws Plea
- March 14, 2008: Mother Sues State, Trailer Park Over Son's Death
- August 15, 2007: Judge Rules On Defense Motions In Boy's Murder Case
- July 30, 2007: Boy's Accused Killer In Court For Hearing
- April 13, 2007: Molester, His Parents Charged In Christopher's 'Horrific' Slaying
- March 21, 2007: As Slain Boy's Viewing Begins, 3 Charged With Murder
- March 19, 2007: Child Molester Got Probation Days Before Slain Boy Vanished
- March 17, 2007: Community Copes After Boy's Search Ends In Tragedy
- March 16, 2007: Missing Boy Found Dead; 4 May Face Murder Charges
- March 15, 2007: Body Of Missing Brunswick Boy Found
- March 15, 2007: New Search, More Evidence, But No Sign Of Missing Boy
- March 15, 2007: Police Search Pond, Follow New Tips In Missing Boy Case
- March 14, 2007: 2nd Search Warrant Executed At Sex Offender's Home
- March 14, 2007: Sex Offender, Offender's Mother Arrested In Boy's Disappearance
- March 13, 2007: Police Search Sex Offender's Trailer In Hunt For Missing 6-Year-Old
- March 12, 2007: After 4 Days, Police Believe Georgia Boy Was Abducted
- March 11, 2007: $27,000 Reward Offered For Missing Georgia Boy
- March 10, 2007: Searchers, Family Determined To Find Missing 6-Year-Old
- March 9, 2007: After 24 Hours, No Sign Of Missing Georgia Boy
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