MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A major murder-for-hire trial in Memphis is running weeks behind schedule.
Martin and Clinton Lewis are on trial for their alleged involvement in Craig Petties' dangerous and violent cross-country drug ring. The two cousins are accused hit men in the organization.
The government originally told the judge this trial would take about four weeks. Now four weeks in, there are still several weeks to go.
The case involves six murders, thousands of kilos of cocaine, and drug dealer after drug dealer all hoping for a shorter sentence if they testify truthfully. The problem is most of them have lied before.
The defense is meticulously cross examining every witness, most of them are former drug dealers with the organization and the defense is trying to catch them in lies on the stand.
The result: only a few witnesses testify each day.
Charles Floyd was the first dealer on the stand on Feb. 29, he testified for several hours.
He told jurors Clinton Lewis was Craig Petties' hit man. If Petties needed anything, Clinton Lewis was the head enforcer.
Martin Lewis hasn't been brought up much in the trial. Floyd testified Martin Lewis wasn't a factor until after Mario McNeal was murdered in 2007, the same year the DEA took down the Petties enterprise.
The government expects to rest its case late next week, which puts the trial at least two weeks behind schedule.
