State to wrap up case against murder suspect

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- The state is expected to put the finishing touches on its case against a local murder suspect Thursday.

Prosecutors are trying to prove Tony Gonzalez shot and killed a friend of his ex-girlfriend's in a fit of jealous rage last year in Warwick.

On Wednesday, Michael Noff, a friend of the defendant, testified that he gave Gonzalez a ride to a location that sounded similar to the description given of the home where Carl Cunningham was killed.

A medical examiner also testified about what would prove to be fatal gunshot wounds suffered by Cunningham. He was shot seven times, including once through the neck, which caused substantial bleeding.

A forensics expert who analyzed the bullets that were found also took the stand this week. He testified the murder weapon was a 9mm handgun, the same type believed to be owned by Gonzalez. However, there is no conclusive evidence that the guns are the same.

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"The general design features, the class characteristics all agree, there is some agreement about the individual characteristics, but not enough for me to say they positively came from the same firearm," said Dennis Lyons of the RI State Crime Lab.

Thursday marks the sixth day of the trial.

Stay with Eyewitness News and wpri.com for more details from the courtroom.