Accused Mesa Murderer on Trial

Corey Lyons, under the cover of darkness early in the morning of May 4, 2009, entered the home of his brother and “brutally murdered” him and his life partner with shotgun blasts because of a lawsuit he was entangled in, a prosecutor alleged in opening statements of Lyons’s trial Friday afternoon.

The defense, led by attorney Robert Sanger, will present its opening statements Monday. It is unclear at this point what that defense will be, or if Lyons himself will take the stand. Lyons is potentially facing life in prison without the possibility of parole should he be found guilty of homicide.

He is charged with two counts of murder, each with special circumstances of lying in wait, committing a double murder, and murder for financial gain. If any of the special circumstances are found to be true in connection with the crime, it could mean life without parole. There is also an allegation of him using a gun, which could add an additional life sentence. He is also charged with residential burglary.