In a major development in the high-profile murder case against Nicholas Wayne Moore, Superior Court Judge Maria T. Cenzon has granted the defense’s motion to compel a key out-of-state witness.

The ruling allows Moore's legal team to pursue a material witness warrant for Eric Benjamin Salone, a man they say fired the same .45-caliber weapon allegedly used in the murder of Michael Castro. 

Moore is accused of killing 27-year-old Castro, whose body was found in a container at a Yigo ranch a year after his disappearance in 2020. 

Salone, a co-defendant in a separate drive-by shooting case involving Moore, is expected to provide critical testimony about the firearm linked to the murder.

While prosecutors did not oppose Salone’s appearance, they objected to delaying the trial by 45 days. The court has not yet ruled on the trial delay, but jury selection is still slated to begin Aug. 11, with the trial expected to stretch into September.

Judge Cenzon also issued strict deadlines for discovery filings and warned both sides to adhere to proper criminal procedures as tensions rose over late motions and evidence disputes involving federal agencies.