WOMAN IMPLICATES BOYFRIEND IN KILLING

She testifies that he admitted role in drug slaying

Joel Hopkins just had to tell someone how he helped kill Michael
Davis, according to Linda Bascone, Hopkins' former girlfriend and a
witness during the second day of Hopkins' trial.

Bascone blotted her eyes Tuesday as she cried while testifying in
Platte County Court that Hopkins had told her about killing Davis on
May 4, 1997.

Bascone said Hopkins and another man, Steven Masden, killed Davis in
the basement of a house in Independence. Masden was convicted of
murder in the case last year.

Hopkins' lawyer, Michael Yonke, said in his opening statement Monday
that Masden had acted alone.

Bascone, however, testified Tuesday that Hopkins said he stomped Davis
and helped dispose of his body after Masden hit Davis with a brick and
cut his throat.

"He said they took him far away and dumped him over a bridge and into
a creek," Bascone said.

Davis' body was found May 5, 1997, in a creek near Farley by a family
out for a walk. Davis' head was covered with plastic and a pillowcase,
which matched a pillowcase from the Independence home of another
girlfriend of Hopkins', police said.

Investigators testified during the trial that a pattern on Davis'
forehead matched the brand of Nike shoe that Bascone said Hopkins had
thrown away the day after Davis' death.

Bascone said a botched drug deal led to Davis' murder.

She said Davis on May 3, 1997, advanced Hopkins 11 pounds of marijuana
with payment to come later. The marijuana was stolen during a burglary
at Hopkins' home later that day, Bascone said. Hopkins, she said,
thought Davis had instructed someone to steal the drugs for resale.

When cross-examined, Bascone admitted that she did not mention
Hopkins' alleged admission when she first was questioned by police.

"I was trying to protect Joel," Bascone said.

During opening statements Monday, chief assistant prosecutor Roseann
Smith read a letter that she said was written by Hopkins while in
detention. In it, he allegedly bragged about the shoe marks and Davis'
killing.

Robin Russell, a handwriting expert for the Missouri Highway Patrol,
testified Tuesday that Hopkins' handwriting matched the writing in the
letter.

Gary Harmor of the SERI Labs in Richmond, Calif., said high-level DNA
tests showed that Davis' blood was found in the trunk of Hopkins' car.

Under cross-examination, Harmor said it was possible that the samples
were contaminated during the last stages of his testing.

Defense lawyer Yonke also pointed out an error in Harmor's lab
notes.

The defense is expected to present evidence today.