Murder trial of Wayne Coldiron begins

PENSACOLA, Florida (WALA) - UPDATE: 11:54 a.m. Court is on lunch break till 1:15 p.m.

11:39 a.m. April Spencer still lives on the Billings' property. Spencer described her relationship as long standing and she still helps out with the Billings children.

Spencer said she got home a little before six the night of the Billings murder.

Eleven-year-old Adrianna came to her home very upset and distraught.

"When she came to the door she was just pounding and pounding on the door," testified Spencer.

Spencer said she asked Adrianna what was wrong.

"She said Ashley said come to the house," testified Spencer.

"I left her (Adrianna) in the house with my daughter and told her to lock the door, I would be back shortly," testified Spencer.

Spencer testified to finding Byrd and Melanie Billings dead.

Next witness is called; Walter Thomas, an Escambia County deputy.

Escambia County Deputy Walter Thomas testified he found Byrd and Melanie Billings dead in the master bedroom.

"One of his hands had a zip tie," testified Thomas.

Thomas testified he found several children at the home. He said after all the children were removed and the residence as secure deputies started preserving the scene.

The deputy is excused.

Zach Ward is called to the stand, he is a computer crimes investigator with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.

11:33 a.m. April Spencer, who lived on the Billings property and acted as a caretaker for the children, is called to the stand.

11:30 a.m. Wayne Coldiron's former girlfriend Dawn Prince was called to testify. Prince testified she was behind on the rent at the time of the murders.

Leonard Gonzalez, Sr.'s wife was called to the stand. She testified to seeing Coldiron, Gonzalez Sr., and his son Patrick Gonzalez on the day of the murders together.

The woman testified on July 9 she heard Coldiron say, "he didn't want to go."

11:08 a.m. The murder trial of Wayne Coldiron is underway in Pensacola. Coldiron is charged with first degree murder in the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Florida State Attorney John Molchan is prosecuting the case.

Ashley Markham, Melanie Billings' daughter, is called to the stand.

Byrd and Melanie were killed in a ninja-style attack in July 2009.

Markham is describing the Billings family home, the number of windows and the number of children who lived there.

"There were nine children in the home. The ages range from fice to 12," testified Markham.

Markham said they all have some sort of disability.

April Spencer lived on the property.

"She had been working with our family for a number of years. Another caretaker for the children," said Markham.

Prosecutor John Molchan moved his questioning.

A camera and DVR system were in the installed in the home.

"The main purpose was to be able to see the children. It is a large home and if you are on one side you wouldn't be able to see the children," testified Markham.

"Are you aware of a safe contained in the house?" asked Molchan.

"Yes," testified Markham.

"One in the master bedroom?" asked Molchan.

"Yes sir," testified Markham.

Molchan moved on to the subject of when Billings met Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. for the first time. Patrick approached him about a donation for a business, around May 2008.

Markham said she wasn't sure if her father donated any money to Gonzalez.

"Patrick came to our office and did go into my father's office," testified Markham.

Prosecutor Molchan moves onto the night Byrd and Melanie were killed.

"The evening hours of July 9, did you call your parents?" asked Molchan.

"Yes, I spoke with my mother several times during the day," said Markham.

Markham said she called her mother back that night, because "I had a missed call - taken a nap."

Markham said Jacob her brother answered.

"Jacob was 11 at the time," testified Markham. "Jacob was very frantic and screaming into the phone. I got him to go get Adrianna, which is the oldest child, to possibly find out. Because when I said take the phone to Mom or Dad I didn't get a response.

"I asked her (Adrianna) where Mom and Dad were and she said she couldn't get them, she was on the bathroom floor. I asked her several times what was going on and she couldn't verbalize anything. I could tell she was in a panic state and I told her to go to April's house, to go get April."

Markham said she and her husband drove to the Billings' home and continued to try and call the home - when she didn't get an answer she called 911.