Home invasion murder trial starts next week

Opening statements in the first-degree murder trial of Ahwatukee Foothills' resident Joseph Woodard, 21, are set to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13 in Maricopa County Superior Court in Mesa.

Parts of the case hinge on statements Woodard made to a fellow inmate in the Fourth Avenue Jail about the home invasion/burglary/robbery that turned deadly when Bradley Eaton, 20, was shot and died Aug. 23, 2006.

Last week, judge Connie Contes denied a defense motion to toss the statements, along with maps to the murder weapon and other statements Woodard made to the inmate, who later became a paid informant.

Police say that Woodard, along with brothers Sergio and Juan Acosta, left their Ahwatukee Foothills homes and drove to Chandler with the intent to rob Eaton and his roommate.

Police quickly found Sergio Acosta and Woodard thanks to a helpful Chandler neighbor, who saw the suspicious vehicle and jotted down the license plate number.

Police also found a gun left by Juan Acosta in the home after the burglary/murder.

Later, with help from two maps Woodard drew, and which were passed to police, a metal detector club found the murder weapon in a wash near where Woodard lived with his parents in the 12400 block of South 38th Street.

Sergio Acosta, who was 15 at the time, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is expected to testify in Woodard's trial for the state.

Juan Acosta immediately went on the run and is still being sought by authorities.

Jury selection began July 1 but, because of scheduling conflicts, the trial, which is expected to last about four weeks, won't begin until next week.

If convicted he could face up to life in prison.