SAN DIEGO _ A house painter was trying to kill CBS News 8 sports director Kyle Kraska when he ambushed the sportscaster outside his Scripps Ranch home more than a year ago, a prosecutor told a jury Monday morning.
"The defendant doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way," the prosecutor said, noting that there had been a dispute over payment for work Mike Montana was supposed to have done at Kraska's home but did not finish.
Montana, 55, is on trial in San Diego County Superior Court on a charge of premeditated attempted murder and charges related to criminal threats he is accused of making against others in 2012 and 2014.
Montana's lawyer said in his opening statement to the jury that Montana did not actually intend to kill Kraska _ only to shoot up his car _ and that the prescription pain medications that the defendant had been taking for years likely affected his mental state.
"His mental processes were so impacted by all these medications that he did not form specific intent," said Deputy Public Defender Richard Jayakumar.
Kraska survived the Feb. 10, 2015, shooting, despite being hit at least four times as he scrambled in and out of his Mercedes in the driveway of his home, said Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Zipp.
She said the evidence would show that the defendant blocked Kraska's car from pulling out of the driveway.
Montana then told Kraska: "You should have (given) me my money."
The prosecutor said Montana was behind the Mercedes when he fired the first shot, and remained "calm, cool and collected" as he walked to the front and fired three shots through the hood, disabling the engine.
Kraska was hit in one of his arms, in his left leg near his femoral artery and twice in his chest. One of the bullets tore through his diaphragm, liver and one of his lungs.
Testimony in the case is expected to continue Tuesday.
