Opening arguments in second trial for Charles Wilhite

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Opening arguments were made Tuesday in the new murder trial for Charles Wilhite .

Wilhite was originally convicted in 2010 of the deadly 2008 shooting of Alberto Rodriguez. He was sentenced to life in prison, but he and his family members maintained his innocence, and a new trial was ordered by a judge in May of 2012, after an important prosecution witness recanted his identification of Wilhite; something he had testified to in his first trial.

In court on Tuesday, attorneys for Wilhite said that following Rodriguez’ shooting outside the Pine Street Market, witnesses had seen a Hispanic man carrying what appeared to be a gun, running down Main Street.  They also said that fingerprint evidence collected from the car in which Rodriguez was shot did not match Wilhite.

In their opening, prosecutors said witnesses will testify that the owner of the market, Angel Hernandez, promised to pay Wilhite to shoot Rodriguez, and provided him with a gun to do it. They say he then fired four times into the vehicle, killing Rodriguez.

Since Wilhite’s 2010 conviction, a group called “ Justice for Charles” has been advocating on his behalf; holding protests and demanding the complete dropping of charges against him.