2003 drug killing reaches courtroom

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) - After nine years, a deadly cold case has reached court -- with a New Bedford man charged in a shooting in Dartmouth.

Derek Hunt, 40, of New Bedford, is accused of shooting and killing Joseph Downing, during a drug deal, in the parking lot of The Crossroads apartment complex back in 2003.

The New Bedford Standard Times reported opening statements happened Thursday.

Downing had been shot in the head and left behind the wheel of a minivan -- with investigators finding his foot on the brake, gearshift in reverse. He'd worked for a glass company.

Investigators didn't say much at the time about it -- but it later came out that they'd found more than $2,000 in cash and two containers of prescription drugs in Downing's van.