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Defendant Denies Role In 2005 Slaying

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 13, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Christopher Wright took the witness stand Wednesday, hardly looking like someone who could have been involved in the brutal killing of John Benjamin.

Clean-shaven and wearing a dress shirt and jacket, Wright looked more like a businessman on his way to work than a man on trial for first-degree murder.

Any illusions the jury might have had about the 47-year-old likely vanished quickly as he gave his account of the events leading up to Benjamin's slaying on Sept. 24, 2005. Wright, a drug addict with at least six prior felony convictions, denied participating in Benjamin's killing but confirmed he was present.

Wright said he watched, stunned, as co-defendant Daniel Parbel killed Benjamin near a construction site off Hays Road.

"I was freaking out," Wright said from the stand. "It was like someone knocked all the air out of me. I was exhausted; it wiped me out."

Benjamin's burned remains were found the next day inside the shell of an Isuzu sport utility vehicle. The 37-year-old optician and father of two had turned to drugs when he ran on tough financial times. Benjamin was killed because he owed $300 to Sherry Harris, his drug supplier, according to testimony.

Two months after Benjamin's slaying, investigators arrested Parbel and Wright. Parbel, 37, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison last month. Wright's trial began with jury selection Monday and was expected to be put in the jury's hands today.

He faces a life sentence if found guilty as charged. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.

Prosecutors contend it was Wright who slit Benjamin's throat and then, with Parbel, chased down Benjamin and beat him to death as he tried to escape.

The state also argues that Wright returned to the scene with Parbel hours later to set Benjamin's body and the SUV on fire.

Witness Yusef "Voodoo" Wilson, who was with the men the night of the killing, testified Wednesday that he saw Wright slit Benjamin's throat.

Wilson also said Wright was an active participant in setting the blaze.

Wright denied setting the blaze. He again said he drove Parbel and Wilson back to the scene to set the fire but said he stayed in his minivan.

In his cross-examination, Assistant State Attorney Michael Halkitis asked Wright why he didn't leave Parbel and Wilson when he had the chance.

"I couldn't think straight that evening," Wright said. "My mind was messed up."

Benjamin was kidnapped from a house on Tidalwave Drive in New Port Richey the day he was killed, according to testimony. Harris, Parbel and Wilson drove him to pay phones around west Pasco County so he could call family and ask for the $300 he owed Harris, testimony has said.

When that didn't work, they took Benjamin to a motel on U.S. 19, where they threatened him. Wright showed up at the motel, and he, Parbel and Wilson drove Harris' Isuzu SUV to the secluded spot off Hays Road, according to testimony.

Wright's attorney, Bjorn Brunvand, told the jury Tuesday in his opening statement that Parbel and Wilson were responsible for the slaying. He said Wilson blamed the killing on Wright when investigators gave him the option of being a witness or a defendant.

"It is reasonable that Voodoo lied about what happens in order to save his own skin," Brunvand said.

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

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