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Wirt County's brutal murder trial continues.
Daniel Neptune, 22, the nephew of accused murderer Roger Flinn, took the witness stand against the Wirt County resident yesterday.
Flinn is on trial in Wood County Circuit Court for the murder of Russell Ray Eastham and his girlfriend Sylvia L. Fittro on April 1, 2005 on Rt. 14 between Palestine and the Roane County line.
Neptune said the two had been drinking heavily the night of the killings, stating he sold a handgun to his uncle for $50 the night of the killings. The gun was declared the murder weapon.
Neptune testified that Flinn got out of the truck, went to the front door and kicked it open when no one answered. An argument began over a previous dispute and Flinn shot Eastham and then followed Fittro into a back room and shot her.
Neptune testified his uncle said "There would be no witnesses....saying he had to get rid of the gun."
The two then drove through some back roads, stopping to throw the weapon over the hill. The weapon was recovered.
The following day, Neptune testified he began to get rid of items, burning his boots and tossing extra ammunition for the gun into a creek.
Neptune testified he stole the murder weapon from a hunting cabin.
Neptune has pleaded guilty to grand larceny related to the theft of the gun, part of a plea agreement in which a charge of burglary was dropped. He agreed to testify for the prosecution in Flinn's murder trial, receiving five years probation and performing 300 hours of community service.
Flinn's defense attorney claimed Neptune gave several statements regarding the crime, changing his story.
Family members testified to an altercation where Neptune lost his front teeth, blaming Eastham, although he was not in a direct fight with him.
A forensic scientist with the West Virginia State Police laboratory said that no blood was found on Flinn's clothing.
Dr. Nabila Haikil, a deputy state medical examiner, testified that Fittro was 12 to 13 weeks pregnant when she was shot.
The defense is making a case that Neptune killed the couple.
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