RICO trial witness David J. Easterling identifies defendant Carlston Coleman in the courtroom. Mr. Easterling has pleaded guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping in exchange for his testimony. ANNETTE M. DROWLETTE/STAFF

"Instead of me gambling with my life for something I didn't do," said Mr. Easterling, who faced a possible death sentence in Columbia County, he pleaded guilty to murder in the deaths of Fred and Yong-Suk Walker and to kidnapping in the Richmond County case involving Sam's Club Manager David Holt.

In statements to investigators and in his testimony Thursday, Mr. Easterling never said he saw Ronald Coleman Jr., 29, or Carlston W. Coleman, 30, rob or abduct Mr. Holt on June 21, 1998. But he placed both men near Sam's Club about the time of the robbery and placed both near the spot where Mr. Holt, 45, died in the trunk of his burning car on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River.

Ronald Coleman and Carlston Coleman, who are not related, have pleaded innocent in Richmond County Superior Court to charges including armed robbery and kidnapping. They and four other men on trial - Kendric Dudley, 30; Ronnie B. Overton Jr., 22; Charles D. Winters, 28; and Jarman Harold, 25 - have each pleaded innocent to a charge of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law.

District attorney Danny Craig hands out headphones for the jury to listen to taped testimony from Laverne Ellis, a witness in the racketeering trial in Richmond County court. ANNETTE M. DROWLETTE/STAFF

Mr. Easterling had been in the Columbia County jail awaiting trial with two other men in the Walkers' slayings when he sought out investigators, he testified Thursday. It will be up to the jury to decide whether Mr. Easterling's testimony this week is true and why his account has varied with each telling - including the fact he falsely accused a third person at one point.

Mr. Easterling testified that he overheard both Colemans discuss robbing Sam's Club, and Carlston Coleman threatened Mr. Easterling to keep quiet. The night of June 20, 1998, Carlston Coleman came to his house, Mr. Easterling testified.

"He let me know he had his gun with him and I was going with them," Mr. Easterling testified. He said he was forced to drive the two Colemans to Springhouse Apartments, located across the street from Sam's Club. Carlston Coleman then took the keys to the vehicle and threatened to kill him if he got out, Mr. Easterling testified.

An hour or two later, Ronald Coleman came back and told him to follow Carlston Coleman, who was driving a small car, Mr. Easterling testified.

The testimony ended with Mr. Easterling telling the court that he was alone driving across the Fifth Street Bridge into South Carolina when he saw the two Colemans running toward him from Sand Pit Road.

In the background, Mr. Easterling said he saw a yellow glow and smoke.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or shodson@augustachronicle.com.