A long time neighbour of slain banker, Stephen Sherman yesterday testified to calling the police and searching the victim’s body after hearing a “pap” sound and screaming.

Karen Curtis on Monday told the court she first thought it was a firecracker until she heard a young lady and Sherman’s wife, Renee screaming, “They shot him. They shot him.”

Ms. Curtis said Sherman was lying on the ground and that when she called his name, he gave a groaning sound.

Curtis, who has been the Sherman’s neighbour for 13 years, was one of three witnesses to take the stand on day one of the murder trial of Cordero Bethel and Janaldo Farrington, both 22-years-old.

The Pinewood Gardens residents are also accused of conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sherman is on trial for conspiracy to commit murder and abetment to murder.

Sherman, an assistant manager at the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) Palmdale branch, was killed “execution style” on February 17, 2012.

According to police, he was shot in the head shortly after pulling up to his Yamacraw Shores home.

He was robbed of his cell phone before being shot.

When asked about her relationship with the Shermans, Ms. Curtis said it was a good one that they would come to family gatherings.

The court also heard from Sgt. 1743 Ester Miller, who at the time of the crime was attached to the Crime Scene Detective Unit.

Sgt. Miller was responsible for taking pictures of the crime scene.

This included photos of the home of the deceased, a close up of the fatal injury to Sherman’s head, a facial view of the deceased after being placed in a body bag and a photo of the deceased at the Rand Lab.

But before hearing testimony from two of the prosecution’s witnesses, the Crown reminded jurors that they are the sole judges of the facts.

“Only evidence led in this court should be considered…Whatever is heard before coming here, put that aside,” advised lead prosecutor in the case, Sandra Dee Gardiner.

“Listen to the evidence and make a decision on the evidence alone….How do you determine what is truth? Look at the witnesses, their demeanour, their intelligence level. Look at how the matter happened, the witnesses’ ability to recall the evidence…Listen to the evidence attentively with an open mind and without pre-judging.”

The case resumes before Supreme Court justice Roy Jones on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.