Witness claims story about murder was made up

A prosecution witness in the trial of two men accused of robbing and fatally beating a 75-year-old man at his Desert Hot Springs home testified today that he lied to police about knowing who killed the victim and why.

Michael Madrid, 30, testified that he fabricated details regarding the Aug. 9, 2009, slaying of Edward Vaughn Keeley, without explaining why.

Travis Martin Cody, 29, and Steven Arthur Banister, 30, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of first-degree murder and special circumstance allegations of killing during a burglary and robbery.

Madrid spoke to Desert Hot Springs police Sgt. Gustavo Paiz about a year after Keeley’s death, in a recorded interview replayed today for jurors.

According to trial testimony, a woman called Paiz and said her boyfriend, who was being held at the county jail in Indio on suspicion of receiving stolen property, had information about a murder.

In the interview, Madrid said he had “details and details” about the case from Cody, whom he met at a friend’s house.

“What was it that he told you?” Paiz asks on the tape.

“That it wasn’t supposed to happen like that, that he got carried away,” Madrid says.

The witness tells Paiz that the two defendants, who had burglarized some buildings on Keeley’s property a few weeks earlier, decided to break into the principal dwelling.

“They were having their way with (Keeley), they confronted him, wanted to know where the rest of the (stuff) was,” Madrid says.

“Did he describe how they killed him?” Paiz asks.

“Yeah, he smashed him with a gun,” Madrid replies, noting that Cody’s friend, “John,” was the one who beat Keeley. Later in the interview, Madrid tells Paiz that “John” was in custody in Tennessee.

When the detective asks Madid whether he’s willing to testify in court, the witness says yes.

Under questioning by defense attorneys, Madrid said he couldn’t remember telling Paiz he would be a witness.

“I’ve been telling you this all along, everything I said was lies,” the defendant testified.

He said he could not remember where he got the information about the case.

“And did you tell Sgt. Paiz that the man who hit the victim was `John’?” asked Cody’s attorney, Leni Jacobs.

“Not that I recall,” Madrid said.

“So why did you tell Sgt. Paiz all this?” Jacobs asked.

“Why did I? I don’t know,” Madrid said.

“Did you have a grudge against Travis Cody?” the defense attorney pressed.

“No, I never met him,” Madrid replied.

Deputy District Attorney Scot Clark asked Madrid how he knew the victim had been beaten with a gun.

“Street talk probably, sir,” Madrid answered.

According to Clark, Keeley was bound at the wrists and ankles and bludgeoned with a shotgun, with which he was struck repeatedly in the face and head.

Attorneys for the defendants say there is no evidence linking either man to the crime.