NORWICH – The prosecution brought its case against James F. Bush to close Thursday afternoon after calling 15 witnesses, including the victim of the drug robbery who shot and killed the Bush’s alleged co-conspirator.
Bush, 46, of Burdick Medbury Road in the Town of Norwich, faces 25 years to life if convicted of any of the top charges against him, including first degree burglary and first degree robbery.
He is accused of participating in the 2007 fatal robbery attempt by conspiring with Joshua Richheimer in planning the attack, owning and providing the sawed-off shotgun used in the alleged crime and driving the two to the home of the marijuana dealer with the intent to steal several hundred dollars in cash and several pounds of marijuana.
First Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Dunshee told the jury Bush and Richheimer planned the robbery together and that the two got “dressed up for crime” at Bush’s residence. He claimed Richheimer put on camouflage pants, dark clothes and nylon gloves, leaving his jacket at Bush’s home where it was later discovered by deputies.
The man police say killed Richheimer in self defense in the robbery is Robert Reynolds, 46, of Pleasant Valley Road, Sherburne.
Reynolds agreed to testify against Bush in exchange for a plea bargain of two and a half years in state prison after pleading guilty to processing 3.5 to 4 pounds of marijuana. Reynolds also had to surrender tens of thousands of dollars worth of property and cash as part of the deal.
Reynolds testified in court that Bush, who was an acquaintance who knew he sold drugs, had called him just half an hour before the incident took place and then called the following morning after the shooting. Reynolds told the jury he thought Bush was directly involved in the attack, although he never saw him on the night in question.
“A convicted drug dealer, a man who buried Josh’s body with a backhoe in the woods, who tossed plastic flowers over his grave before covering him up, that’s the guy who’s going to be the main witness in this trial,” said Bush’s assigned counsel Joseph J. Ermeti of Binghamton.
The defense has continually attacked Reynolds’ credibility, remarking that the plea deal made by the prosecution avoided several potential charges.
