"He shot me in my fucking heart" is what victim's girlfriend testifies in the Rancho Sequoia murder case

The first witness to testify this morning in the Matthew Brown case was the victim's girlfriend.  Neil Decker's partner Melissa Toner originally from Southern California lived with Decker on Rancho Sequoia Drive. They lived near Scott Johnson and his girlfriend Johanna Hames. The second witness to briefly testify before the court adjourned for this case today was Hames.

Toner teared up as DDA Neel showed her Decker's picture in court. She said Decker helped Johnson build an add on to his property and did odd jobs for him. Toner said that Decker and she were like "family" to Johnson and that they visited his house every day. She met Brown through Johnson two years ago. Toner said that Brown was dating another woman, their friend Kara Williams, and lived in a camper on Johnson's property. Toner told DDA Kelly Neel that it was "known to everybody" that Decker and Brown "had a mutual dislike of each other." Toner said that the conflict between Brown and Decker was over what Brown "did on the property."

WhenNe Neel asked Toner how she felt about Brown, she responded, "When I first met him he was a likeable guy, I don't like him anymore, he killed my...he killed Neil." Unlike Hames, Toner did not glare at Brown. With Hames, it was very obvious she disliked Brown. In fact, when Hames started testifying, she said, "I honestly didn't care about Matthew."

 While Toner was being questioned on direct by Ms. Neel, she said she did not witness any incidents between Decker and Brown but had heard about them. She was very specific she did not witness the "bear spray incident." While she was testifying, Brown was whispering to his attorney and writing things down.  On the day of the shooting, Toner said that she did not hear any yelling or arguing, she heard a gunshot and "I heard Hana scream, 'You shot Neil.'"

Toner said she ran upstairs and that "Neil was standing by the window, he looked at his chest and he was bleeding. He said, 'He shot me in my fucking heart.' We said I love you to each other and those were the last words Neil said to me." Toner was crying at this point.

When she calmed down, she said she saw Brown and Johnson struggling with Brown's shotgun. Toner said that Johnson said: "You shot my friend." and that Brown responded, "Dad what? Dad what?" She claims that then Brown jumped out the window on to the balcony which led downstairs.

On cross, Brown's attorney, Mr, Elvine-Kreiss brought up the fact that many people only go by first names or nicknames in that area. This became apparent when testimony later referred to Ray Ray and red- headed Bob and Dave. On cross, Toner could not be specific why Brown used either bear spray or pepper on Bob but claimed he just did and that he blocked their entrance at the Johnson house a few minutes later and that pissed Decker off so he sprayed Brown. Mr. Elvine-Kreiss pointed out to Toner that initially she said "blood was everywhere" and that a few minutes earlier she said Decker was shot in the chest and he was bleeding. He pointed out a couple of other inconsistencies between prior and today's testimony. As he questioned her, Toner made a vague reference that "Neil was mad because Matthew would lock gates what were supposed to be unlocked."

Mr. Elvine-Kreiss got Toner to admit that Decker used meth and that she did too but Toner said that she was not on meth the night Decker got shot. When Mr. Elvine-Kreiss asked her if she knew about a group called the Alderpoint 8. She said "yes." When Mr. Elvine-Kreiss said, "How do you know that group?" She responded, "I don't know how to answer that."

When Ms. Neel questioned Toner on re-direct, she questioned her about a surprise she gave Ms. Neel today in court. On direct, she told Ms. Neel that she had not witnessed any incident between Decker and Brown. On cross, she told Mr. Elvine-Kreiss differently.

Regarding her meth use, when Ms. Neel said, "Is it common for people to use methamphetamine in that area?", Toner said, "yes." She also admitted that prior to Brown's taking care of Johnson's property, she and Decker had free reign of the house, the issue about the gates was not so much about locking and unlocking but about Brown being in control.

On re-cross, Mr. Elvine-Kreiss was able to get Toner to admit that Decker and she argued. She would not admit to Decker being violent. Ms. Neel objected to a question by Mr. Elvine-Kreiss about Decker's alleged domestic violence record and whether he was physically violent with Toner and after they privately approached and talked with Judge Feeney, Toner was excused but "subject to recall."

Hames, briefly testified that several people lived on the property, that she never cared for Brown, that he was living on the property when he was dating a friend of theirs but then they broke up and he lived in the area with another girlfriend but still worked for Johnson.

Today before court adjourned she told DDA Neel that Brown told her that "Neil Decker wasn't a good friend to Scott." She then said they had issues other than the "jealousy" between them about "who was Scott's best friend."