MAYVILLE – In an attempt to paint Davide Coggins as the mastermind of last year’s double homicide in Carroll, the prosecution Wednesday questioned two girls who spent considerable time with his alleged cohorts. The defense targeted their credibility.

Sierra Hoffman and Ashley Granger were friends of Joshua McCormick, Ricky Knickerbocker and Steven Todd – the three Elmira men who, along with Coggins, are accused of murdering Gordon and Joyce Skinner on April 17, 2013.

The day before the crime, Hoffman and Granger were staying at the Elmira apartment of Lynsey Brown, Steven Todd’s then girlfriend. As was typical, they were joined by Brown, McCormick, Knickerbocker and Todd – a group that dubbed themselves “the team.”

Coggins, while not an “official” member of this team, was also staying at Brown’s apartment. He was reportedly just an acquaintance who befriended the others by giving them tattoos.

Hoffman revealed to David Foley, Chautauqua County district attorney, that the four men left the apartment around 5 p.m. April 16 and that Coggins’ reason was “to get rent money.”

Brown testified last week that she owed $800 in rent at the time.

The following morning, the four men returned looking “really weird” and quiet, according to Hoffman. They left the apartment shortly afterward.

Hoffman and Granger both testified that they picked up McCormick, Knickerbocker and Todd later that evening when they requested a ride.

When police pulled over their vehicle a couple minutes later, Todd allegedly gave Hoffman a handful of jewelry, which she proceeded to hide in her shirt.

The jewelry was later found after the five individuals were taken to the state police barracks in Horseheads.

Public Defender Nathaniel Barone, who is representing Coggins, had the witnesses reveal that they were abusing illegal drugs at the time, namely ecstasy and heroin.

He questioned Hoffman’s judgment about hiding the jewelry and Granger’s inconsistent responses as to whether she saw Todd give her the jewelry.

Three other witnesses, all law enforcement officers, involved in the initial arrest and investigation of the five individuals, also testified.

The trial resumes at 1:30 p.m.