COEUR d'ALENE - A trial started this week in Kootenai County District Court for a 28-year-old man accused last summer of kidnapping a man and extorting money from his family.

Joshua M. Moses, of Spokane, was arrested in July in Post Falls and charged at that time with theft by extortion and the kidnapping of Joshua M. Branam. Moses has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the alleged crime. The three-day trial is scheduled to conclude today.

Witnesses so far have testified that Moses got $2,500 in cash from Branam's brother-in-law in a Walmart parking lot in Post Falls on July 24.

After being handed the money, Moses allegedly said it was an "ugly business" and that he didn't like the idea of having to kill someone, according to testimony.

Branam's brother-in-law testified that Moses told him that "taking a life" wasn't easy, and wasn't something Moses wanted to have to do.

Moses' defense attorneys say Moses was just a pawn picking up money for Branam. They said Wednesday in court that it was all Branam's plan to extort the money.

Branam's brother-in-law told the jury he received phone calls on the morning of July 24 from Moses, and from Branam. Branam owed somebody money, and somebody had to settle up for him, he said.

Branam explained over the phone that he would be killed if somebody didn't pay the money he owed, his brother-in-law testified.

After paying the money, the brother-in-law said he drove Moses from Walmart and found Branam with multiple facial wounds. Police were then contacted.

Branam later backtracked during a previous court hearing on his report of being kidnapped. Branam won't be available to testify in Moses' case after he invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

The Press reported in July of last year that Post Falls police and SWAT team members surrounded a house at 204 W. 17th Ave. in Post Falls, believing they had tracked an armed Moses to that location. Moses was arrested hours later for theft by extortion and kidnapping after a foot pursuit along the banks of the Spokane River.