The trial of three men charged in murdering a Northern California man resumes in Courtroom 35 on Friday at 9 a.m.

A key prosecution witness Kenneth Pecaro who was with the victim Michael Wade was on the stand on Wednesday and finished his testimony on Thursday.

Prosecutors say defendants, Brian Bilal Starks, 37; Terrance Deshun Morrow, 31; and Corey Lamar Johnson, 34, had a rifle and two handguns and were there to rip off drug money from Wade, Pecaro and Darrell Babagay.

Defense lawyers say the trio had the cocaine and were there to do a drug deal. Attorney Gay Zide who represents Starks said her client shot Wade in self-defense,  Zide claims that Wade had a razor knife. Morrow shot Pecaro in the hand. Lawyers said this wasn't robbery because Pecaro and Wade had no money.

Pecaro testified that he was walking toward a residence on the 1400 block of South E Street in Oxnard in the afternoon on Nov. 9, 2009. He said he was walking in front of Starks and Wade was behind Starks. Pecaro said as he was about to go inside the residence when he saw Morrow pointing a gun to his head. He grabbed Morrow's hand.

Pecaro said a struggle ensued and he was shot. Pecaro admitted lying to police many times about what happened and said he was going to get $3,000 for his role in the cocaine deal.

Starks is accused of hitting Wade in the head with the gun and shooting him in the back twice as he ran.

Prosecutor Maeve Fox said Wade ran out of his shoe as he bolted  and then stumbled before he collapsed with two mortal wounds on his back.

Court testimony indicates that Wade and his friend and gambling buddy Babagay were in Oxnard to buy cocaine. The two were going to pay $18,500 for 2.2 pounds of cocaine and wanted to buy 6.6 pounds. Pecaro contacted Starks who was his prison cellmate to buy the cocaine, and Starks, in turn, recruited Morrow and Johnson.

Starks and Johnson will probably testify.

On Friday morning, Sheriff's Sgt. Carlos Macias who worked as a narcotics officer continues his testimony as an expert. He is testifying about the inner workings of the drug world, including the pricing and packaging of cocaine.