First day of Murder Mountain homicide covers meth, vigilante justice and the Alderpoint 8

Is Matthew Brown, a man who gunned down "an unarmed and defenseless" Neil Decker or "on that evening, Matt had no choice but to shoot."

The prosecution and defense agree on one thing: Neil Decker and Matthew Brown did not like each other. There are some other facts they agree on but the prosecution paints Brown as a man who killed Decker in cold blood and the defense tells a story of an outsider brought into "the wild west" who feared his life and the "vigilante justice" of the Alderpoint 8.

Both, DDA Kelly Neel and Brown's defense attorney, Mr. Greg-Elvine Kreiss presented equally compelling opening arguments which were followed by Neil Decker's girlfriend and Scott Johnson's girlfriend testifying this morning.

Johnson was a friend to both men and employed them both. Decker's family/friends were present today, rudely talking during opening arguments, testimony. One person was ejected from the courtroom later for either distracting the jury or some other inteference after a private admonishment by the bailiff. The same woman glared at Brown when she first entered the courtroom.

Brown is charged with Count 1 murder, a felony with special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm/a shot gun, which Judge Feeney in his preliminary jury instructions said makes this a serious and violent crime and another special allegation where the intentional discharge of the firearm led to great bodily injury.

Only Channel 3 was present today in court.