Timothy Westfield testified Wednesday that he is "100 percent sure" that 33-year-old Harold Francis "Bam" Butler is one of the gunmen involved in the murder of 46-year-old Bernard Hughes at the British Woods Apartments in 2010.
The witness, who was injured in the aborted robbery, told a jury in the courtroom of Judge Don Poole that he had seen Butler around, but did not know him by name.
He said when he saw his mug shot in the newspaper after his arrest in the case, "I knew it was him."
An artist, he said he drew a mask around the Butler mug shot. He said that further convinced him. He stated, "I focus on people. That's what I do - I draw." The gunmen in the incident were wearing masks.
Westfield said he has a nose with a high bridge and so does Butler. The witness said that is an unusual trait in black men and is an indication of "Indian heritage."
He also said he lunged at Butler and may have been the cause of his boot being knocked off and left at the scene. He said it was "a little bitty shoe. Nobody else there could have worn it."
Westfield was at the apartment of Hughes along with two females. He said Hughes answered a knock at the door, and he heard someone outside tell him, "Lay it down." Westfield said he knew that meant it was a robbery. He said he went outside to try to help his longtime friend.
He said there were 3-4 shots fired by the robbers before they took off.
Butler is facing charges of felony murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery.
Unjolee Moore is already facing a life-in-prison sentence after he was convicted earlier. Moore, 27, was found guilty by a jury in the courtroom of Judge Poole after a week-long trial in June.
Prosecutors said Moore was the driver in the June 10, 2010, robbery and murder on Oakwood Drive.
John "Cut Throat" Simpson, who was allegedly one of two gunmen who shot the two men on the porch of Hughes' apartment, earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He has not been sentenced.
Authorities said Butler was the other triggerman and that Steven James Ballou, 33, was also involved. Ballou pleaded guilty in mid-July to aggravated robbery and was given a 12-year prison sentence.