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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Five people have been bound over for trial in the death of a pregnant woman, who was caught in the crossfire during an alleged drug and cash robbery attempt.
Some testimony at a preliminary hearing on Friday claimed Robert Everett Collins, 19, told a jail mate that he shot Darla M. Woundedhead accidentally while returning fire.
But other witnesses said the Aug. 18 shooting at a Salt Lake City motel was deliberate, and that they heard one of the robbers yell, "Kill them all," just before the shooting started.
Woundedhead, 20, who was seven months pregnant, apparently was trying to leave the motel room when she was hit in the chest with a shotgun blast.
Her daughter was delivered after her death, but was born with three drugs in her system and other health problems and has remained in a persistent vegetative state.
Collins; Kerri Dawn Armant, 33; Andrea A. Martinez, 18; Lawrence Clinton Valdez, 25; and Todd C. Allen, 32, were charged with first-degree felony murder and two counts of aggravated robbery.
After the preliminary hearing, Armant, Collins, Valdez and Allen were ordered to stand trial on the charges. Martinez waived her right to a preliminary hearing and also was bound over for trial. A scheduling hearing for the five was set for March 13.
Willie Bates, who testified he rode in a car with the others but did not take part in the alleged robbery attempt, said that Armant was upset when Martinez claimed she had been nearly raped by someone in the room earlier that day.
Bates said that Armant scoped out the motel room by asking room occupant Salvadore Brito for free drugs.
Bates said that when Brito refused, Armant walked back to the car and told the men, "Let's get 'em."
Brito said three men forced their way into the room, which was also occupied by his girlfriend, Jessica Lawrence. Brito said the men beat him while demanding drugs and money.
Earl Hall, who was renting an adjacent room, said he could identify Armant and the three male defendants because they ran past him as they left the room.
Hall said he grabbed his handgun and fired at the car after Collins started shooting in his direction.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
