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Man Framed In Slaying, Defense Says

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The family of murder victim John Benjamin returned to a Pasco County courtroom Tuesday for what they hope is the final chapter of their nightmare.

Last month, Daniel Parbel was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for his role in Benjamin's death. Now Parbel's co-defendant, Christopher Wright, sits at the defense table facing the same charge.

During opening statements Tuesday, defense attorney Bjorn Brunvand told the jury Wright wasn't directly involved in the killing of the 37-year-old optician-turned-drug-addict.

Brunvand said Yusef "Voodoo" Wilson, a key prosecution witness, helped kill Benjamin, then lied to investigators and fingered Wright. To prove it, Wright will take the stand this week and tell jurors what really happened the night of Sept. 24, 2005, Brunvand said.

"You will find out that Voodoo, after he's offered the opportunity to be either a witness or a defendant, basically flip-flops," Brunvand said during opening statements.

"He puts himself in the shoes of Chris Wright, and he puts Chris Wright in the shoes of Voodoo. Voodoo's testimony and recollection of the facts is not as clear as what you'll hear from Chris Wright," Brunvand said.

Benjamin's spiral into drug addiction ended when a worker found his burned remains in a wooded area off Hays Road on Sept. 25, 2005. What was left of his body was found inside the burned shell of an Isuzu SUV.

Parbel, 37, and Wright, 47, of Port Richey, were charged with the slaying two months later.

A divorced father of two, Benjamin had turned to drugs after he ran into tough financial times months before his death. In the end, investigators said, he was killed because he owed Sherry Harris, his drug supplier, $300 for cocaine.

Benjamin was at a house on Tidalwave Drive in New Port Richey when he was kidnapped. Harris, Parbel and Wilson drove Benjamin to several pay phones in west Pasco, so he could call family and ask for the money, records state.

When that didn't work, they checked into a U.S. 19 motel, where Benjamin was threatened with a gun. Wright met the four at the motel late that night. Parbel, Wright and Wilson loaded Benjamin into Harris' SUV and drove him to the area off Hays Road.

That's where the stories diverge.

Assistant State Attorney Michael Halkitis told jurors this version: Wright, who sat behind Benjamin in the SUV, reached around and slashed his throat. Benjamin jumped out of the vehicle and ran, but Parbel and Wright chased him down and scuffled with him.

Benjamin managed to get into the driver's side of the SUV, lock the doors and drive away, but the vehicle didn't get far before it got stuck in the sand. The men ran to the car, dragged Benjamin out and continued the beating.

Later, Parbel, Wright and Wilson returned to the scene, put Benjamin's body inside the SUV and set it on fire.

Halkitis said Wilson watched the whole thing but didn't participate. But Brunvand said Wright was the one who watched, not Wilson.

"The entire time, Chris Wright feels helpless. He's shocked," Brunvand said. "He doesn't know what to do. He is frozen and can't believe what's happened in front of him."

Parbel's attorneys tried a similar tactic at his trial, only they tried to pin the murder on Wright alone. The jury didn't buy it and needed only an hour to deliberate before returning a guilty verdict.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (727) 815-1084 or tleskanic@tampatrib.com.

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