Witness testifies pair planned to murder Cipriano family - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

The family of Robert and Rose Cipriano filed into court Wednesday to confront their own relative, Tucker Cipriano, and his friend, Mitchell Young, accused of beating Tucker's father to death with a baseball bat and nearly killing his mother and brother, Sal.

"They decided on going to the Cipriano house and killing the family," Ian Zinderman, one of Tucker's friends, said on the stand.

Zinderman testified he was with Tucker and Mitchell, also known as Roderick, the night of April 15.  He claims the men wanted money and valuables to flee to Mexico.  Zinderman admitted he helped Tucker break into his parents garage twice that evening to get money to buy the drug K2 or Spice, and he witnessed them plotting to do much worse.

"It was decided that Tucker was going to go after his two brothers and Roderick was going to go after the mom and the dad."

Inside the Cipriano home that night were the parents, Robert and Rose, the twin brothers, Tanner and Sal, and their sister, eight-year-old Isabella.

"Roderick was supposed to go for the sister from what I understand."

"Why did Tucker not want to do that?" Zinderman was asked.

"Tucker loves his sister."

"Did he mention that?"

"Yes."

Zinderman broke down on the stand and said Tucker and Mitchell had been plotting this for weeks and wanted him to be the getaway driver and take a cut of the money.  He said he told them no.

"I said ... they could do it on their own accord."

Zinderman also testified they considered attacking a neighboring family before deciding the Ciprianos had more money and valuables.

Zinderman, who is homeless, spent the night at a friend's home in Keego Harbor and saw Tucker when he returned to that home from allegedly attacking his parents.

"He was wearing a gray stripped V-neck shirt ... There was blood on it.  All he said was that he messed up."

However, defense attorneys questioned Zinderman's story.  He cut a deal with prosecutors and has immunity when he, too, could be facing very serious charges.

"Is that one of the reasons you're testifying here today because you can get off the hook now?" he was asked.

"I'm testifying because it's the right thing to do."

One of the first responders also testified on Wednesday.   The preliminary exam will resume on June 8.