Nine witnesses were called to the stand on Monday in the trial of Melvin "Rock" Smith. He’s charged with 1st-degree murder and other offenses for the fatal shooting of Tranice Richardson in July, 2011, outside of her apartment on Orchard Terrace in Frederick. Melvin Smith was apprehended weeks later in McKeesport, Pa.

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, no relation to the defendant, says the State Medical Examiner was called to testify in Circuit Court on Monday. "The M.E. testified that the manner of death was homicide, and that Miss Richardson died from seven multiple gunshot wounds to various parts of her body: two to the head, one through the face, one in the back, one in the breast, and two in the arm, actually," he says.

Also taking the oath to testify were two of Richardson’s children, an 11-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy, who described their mother’s rocky relationship with Melvin Smith. "How she had kicked him out. How he was accusing her of having other boyfriends, and sort of established the motives for the murder," says Charlie Smith.

Other testimony came from police officers who examined Melvin Smith’s cell phone records. "They were approximately 1400 calls that were placed in three days prior to her murder, all from Melvin Smith’s various phones that he used," says Charlie Smith. "So you can see, obviously, he was calling her fairly non-stop for the three days prior to this homicide."

State’s Attorney Charlie Smith says the prosecution plans to call about 6-7 witnesses on Tuesday, and hopes to wrap up its case by then.  He says closing arguments could take place on Wednesday afternoon.