Confusion in Oaklyn Teens Case?

A key witness in the case of three teens accused of plotting a shooting spree told a judge Friday that he stands by his original account of the teens' attempt to carjack him.

Matthew Rich was called to testify in court in Camden, N.J., after an interview he conducted with NBC 10 in which he seemed to change his story about the events of July 6.

Lawyers for one of the teens saw the report and petitioned the judge to have his client's case sent back to juvenile court. Superior Court Judge Louis F. Hornstine had waived Cody Jackson's case to adult court last month. He said he would hear what Rich said and weigh whether there were still reasons enough to keep the case in adult court.

Hornstine said he would issue a decision Tuesday, after hearing arguments from Jackson's lawyer and prosecutors on Monday.

Jackson and two other teens were arrested July 6 and accused of carjacking and conspiracy to commit murder, among other offenses.

Authorities said they were on the verge of carrying out a plan to kill three teenage enemies in their hometown of Oaklyn, then shoot others at random before leaving town in a hijacked car.

Rich told NBC 10's Vince DeMentri in the interview that Jackson did not point a gun at him.

At the hearing Friday, Rich said he told DeMentri that because he thought that's what the reporter wanted to hear. Rich said he tried to e-mail the reporter to change his story back, but that he didn't do it until it was too late.

A spokeswoman for WCAU said the station had no comment.

"There were two individuals with weapons pointed at me," Rich said in court. "One on my driver's side and one at my windshield."

He said that Jackson appeared to be frightened and pointed a gun at him for only an instant.

"How long was the gun pointed at me? I'd say the second I saw it was the second I took off," Rich said.

Jackson's lawyer, John A. Underwood, said Rich, who is on a year of probation after pleading guilty to a disorderly persons offense, was not credible on the witness stand. Underwood noted that Rich admitted at one point that he was afraid to change his story for fear of being criminally prosecuted.

"I think Matthew Rich should be ashamed of himself," Underwood said. "I don't think any jury is going to believe Matthew Rich."

Rich has said since the day of the alleged crime that he wanted the three boys to be treated as juveniles. He reiterated that in court and said that he loses sleep over the fact that the three are facing time in adult prison over what he called a "mistake."

The other two teens charged are Matthew Lovett, 18, who is in jail on $1 million bail awaiting a trial, and 14-year-old Christopher Olson, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to weapons offenses in a deal with prosecutors.

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