Informants testify in Marley Lion murder case

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Jurors in the Marley Lion murder trial heard from informants who testified that the murder suspect sold them the murder weapon.

Ryan Deleston, 32, is on trial for the killing of Lion last year. After Lion, 17, set off his car alarm, while sleeping in his SUV in a West Ashley parking lot, Deleston allegedly fired six shots at the teen, killing him.

Prosecutors say after Deleston shot Lion, he sold the gun to informants, who recorded the transaction.

Videos and photos of Deleston selling the murder weapon to an undercover informant were also shown in court. The informant wore a hidden camera on his chest and according to testimony, the informant succeeded in getting the gun.

Police say video from inside the informant's car showed Deleston selling the gun for $200 to two undercover informants. The sale was made on July 15, 2012 in the Ardmore neighborhood near where Lion was gunned down exactly a month earlier.

A video taken by undercover cops appears to show Deleston walking to the car with one of the two informants who bought the gun.

Another video shown on Thursday showed a police interview where investigators questioned Deleston for more than four hours following his arrest in July of last year.

Two of Deleston's co-defendants, Bryan Rivers and Julius Brown, testified against him this week. They were allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in exchange for their cooperation.

If convicted, Deleston faces life in prison without parole.

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