Rescheduled
Murder Trial Is Delayed
By CHRISTOPHER V. PORTER
Chronicle Staff
TULSA--The first murder trial in the 2008 killing of businessman Neal Sweeney has been delayed.
Two of the four defendants (Mohammed Aziz and Alonzo Johnson) were scheduled for an Oct. 17 trial, but Tulsa County District Judge Tom Gillert rescheduled their trials for January.
It has yet to be decided whether the two men would be tried separately.
Lawyers for Mr. Aziz filed a request for a postponement.
Terrico Bethel, the alleged triggerman in the murder-for-hire case, is scheduled for a Nov. 28 trial.
A Jan. 23 trial is scheduled for Fred Shields Jr.
A prosecutor has previously said Mr. Aziz and Mr. Johnson should not be tried in the same proceeding as Mr. Shields or Mr. Bethel.
Neal Sweeney, 63, was shot in the head Sept. 4, 2008, at his business, Retail Fuels Marketing, 3158 S. 108th East Ave. He died the next day.
A former University of Tulsa football standout whose business sold gasoline to convenience stores, Mr. Sweeney had been involved in a lawsuit against Mr. Aziz, who operated convenience stores that bought fuel from Mr. Sweeney’s business, according to prosecutors.
Mr. Aziz is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and soliciting for first-degree murder.
Mr. Bethel, Mr. Shields and Mr. Johnson are each charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
A fifth defendant, Allen Shields, died in April of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and testified for the prosecution at a preliminary hearing for the other four defendants.
Allen Shields had been offered a plea deal calling for a 10-year probation and no prison time.
Allen Shields was Fred Shields’ brother and Mr. Johnson’s cousin.
