NATCHEZ — During his opening statement Tuesday, Concordia Parish District Attorney Brad Burget told 12 jurors and two alternates the prosecution’s story of what happened April 3, 2010, a story he said led to the murder of Reginald “Chucky” Green.

Burget started his statement by describing what he believes to be the motivation of one of the defendants for the murder.

“Somebody died over accusations over theft of $700,” Burget said. “How stupid does it get?”

Burget spoke Tuesday on behalf of the State of Louisiana at the trial of Bryant Bethley and Daniel Butler.

Both men are charged with second-degree murder stemming from their involvement in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Green.

Bethley is believed by prosecutors to be the gunman in the incident, and Daniel Butler was allegedly in the vehicle in which Bethley fled the scene.

Burget explained that Butler’s presence at the scene with Bethley implicates him for second-degree murder, as well, according to the law.

Both are also charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder stemming from gunshots Burget said were fired at or near three passengers in the parked Chevy Blazer in which Green was killed. Butler is also charged with obstruction of justice.

Burget said he would present his case from beginning to end according to what happened the day of the alleged murder.

“I’m going to tell you exactly what I attempt to prove,” he said.

Green’s murder happened on a Saturday, the night of the Delta Music Fest and the weekend before Easter, he said.

Burget said Bethley was dating Green’s sister before Green’s death, and Green called Bethley the day of the murder, possibly accusing him of stealing $700 that was missing from Green mother’s house where he and his sister lived.

Burget said a witness will testify that following some phone calls between Bethley and the victim, Bethley purchased a Bushmaster assault rifle from him.

Burget said a witness would also testify during the trial that the Blazer belonging to Green’s mother drove by a house where Bethley and others gathered, the Blazer contained men waving guns outside the vehicle.

He said Bethley, Butler and Butler’s brother, Reginald Butler, later drove to 803 Alabama Ave., and stopped their car near Green’s car.

Bethley then got out of the car and shot Green, striking him in the back, shoulder, and face.

Ferriday Police Chief Johnny Evans, who was assistant police chief and lead investigator at the time of the murder, identified evidence for the court of crime scene photographs.

Burget pointed to patches of bright red substances in a photograph of the backseat floorboard that Evans identified as the victim’s brain matter.

Burget said the three passengers escaped the car. Passengers included Myisha Leonard, who was Green’s girlfriend who was sitting in the passenger seat, and Kenneth Leonard and Kevin Carter, who were seated in the back seat.

Burget said police found in Green’s car crack cocaine and a digital scale often used for selling drugs in his car at the crime scene.

The jury heard Tuesday a number of 911 calls made in reference to the incident. The audio clip of the first call at 10:17 p.m. contained sounds of a woman shrieking, seemingly incoherently.

David Cobb, the 911 operator who testified Tuesday, was heard on the clip asking at least three times what happened and what was the address. The woman on the call at one point shrieked, “Hurry up.” She eventually shouted the address to Cobb.

Cobb asked the woman who shot the victim.

“I never got a straight answer,” he testified.

Burget also presented a dispatcher’s log that contained Bethley’s name, which dispatcher Mary Allen testified one of the officers at the scene told her.

Officers brought the car Bethley and Butler drove at the scene of the crime back to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Evans said.

Evans also pointed out 13 shell casings recovered at the scene.

Burget entered the alleged murder weapon into evidence, which was stored in a cardboard box.

He said during his opening statement Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officials found the weapon, which he described as a civilian version of an AK-47, after dragging the bottom of Black Bayou with a net.

Butler’s attorney, Madaline Gibbs, said Butler’s case was categorized by “guilt by association.”

“The life of a 30-year-old man hangs in the balance,” she said.

Gibbs emphasized the responsibility of the jurors.

“Think about the motive (of the witnesses),” she said.

Bethley’s attorney, Derrick Carson, said the jury must scrutinize every piece of evidence.

“Use your own life experience (to judge the testimonies),” he said.

“We’re dealing with a matter of life and liberty.”