RICHMOND, Texas -- Testimony began in the trial of a son accused of hiring two co-defendants to kill his mother and brother and wounding his father and himself in an ambush attack at their Sugar Land home, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Bart Whitaker is charged with capital murder in connection with the death of his mother, Patricia, and his brother, Kevin, in December 2003. Whitaker and his father, Kent, were wounded in the shooting.

Prosecutors said the family had no idea Whitaker planned to hurt them.

"They give Bart Whitaker a Rolex, a very expensive watch, for his graduation," prosecutor Fred Felcman said. "Then they go to Pappadeaux's. He breaks bread with them, he eats with them and even has a complimentary dessert with them because he's graduating -- all while knowing that within minutes his family is going to be dead."

Prosecutors said Whitaker hoped to inherit $1 million from his family's deaths. He could face the death penalty if he is convicted.

The family walked into their home in what was described as a fake burglary, prosecutors said.

"Nothing's ransacked. Nothing's pulled out. Items that are normally taken in a burglary are right there," Felcman said. "A laptop -- there's even a rifle there. Nothing's disturbed."

Prosecutors said jurors would see videotape taken inside the home that will show that the house was not ransacked.

In opening statements, Whitaker's attorney told the jury that he believes most of the state's evidence is witness testimony from alleged accomplices.

Whitaker's attorney never claimed Whitaker's innocence, but did talk about the death penalty.

"Because the state gave notice to Bart Whitaker in this that they were seeking the death penalty is why we have a jury trial in this matter," said Randy McDonald, Whitaker's attorney. "You are going to make that determination after you hear the evidence."

The trial is expected to last about three weeks.

Whitaker's friends, Chris Brashear and Steven Champagne, were also charged in connection with the killings. Champagne has agreed to a plea bargain in which he will testify against Whitaker and Brashear in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence.