JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It was a damaging day for the defense in day three of the Carlton Lumpkins triple-murder trial Wednesday, when R.V. Nelson, lead investigator in the September 2002 shootings of Johnnie Gatlin and her nephews, Chris and Deon Kirkland, took the stand for the prosecution.

Nelson told the jury Lumpkins confessed to him one week after the shootings occurred, and then Nelson read verbatim to the jury what he contends Lumpkins told him.

According to Nelson, Lumpkins told police he and Maurice Silas -- who has already pleaded guilty -- got out of their car and started shooting at the victims. Nelson says Lumpkins mistakenly shot Gatlin and Chris and Deon Kirkland as revenge for his own brother's murder.

The jury was then shown what Nelson said was a taped confession, recorded from police headquarters.

Lumpkins' attorney, Quentin Till, objected to the presentation of the videotape because its poor quality made it difficult for jurors to hear every word. Lumpkins could be seen signing the confession on camera, but Till argued that his client could have been pressured into doing so by police.

Till has argued that Lumpkins was at the Gatewall Mall around the time of the shootings, but that surveillance video from the shopping center was lost. Till argued that Lumpkins could not have gotten from the mall to where the shootings occurred in time.

Silas is expected to testify Thursday.