victim’s death was ordered by “a very powerful prison gang called the 'suranos,'” Spanish for the South Gang.

The trial of an Oregon State Penitentiary inmate accused of killing another prisoner got underway in Marion County Circuit Court .

Isacc Creed Agee, 33, is on trial for what prosecutors say was his part in the slaying of Antonio Barrantes-Vasquez inside the victim’s cell on Feb. 14, 2008.

Agee is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted in Barrantes’ death.

During his opening statement, Matt Kemmy, a Marion County deputy district attorney, showed the jury a picture of the victim, saying the Barrantes had been asleep in his cell when Agee and another inmate, James Demetri Davenport, assaulted him.

“They were in their cell waiting for the chance to kill Mr. Barrantes,” Kemmy told the jury about the pair.

Davenport was sentenced to life in prison.

In his opening statement, Jeffrey Jones, Agee’s defense attorney, told jurors that he and his client were not contesting much of the evidence in Barrantes’ death.

He also told the jury the evidence will show that the victim’s death was ordered by “a very powerful prison gang called the 'suranos,'” Spanish for the South Gang.