Bakari Pitts testified Friday about why he agreed to tell detectives how he shot Fred Williams, execution style, on a rural road near Camarillo.

Pitts told jurors that it was hard to sleep thinking about how he killed his close friend. In addition, the possibility that he might get the death penalty for the May 12, 2006, shooting weighed heavily on his mind.

While in custody for the murder, Pitts told detectives that John "Big Rock" Lewis wanted Williams dead and paid Pitts $5,000 after he did it.

Lewis, who is the alleged leader of the Oxnard-based Black Mafia, is on trial for murder in Ventura County Superior Court.

Defense Attorney Steven Powell said the allegations against Lewis are based on lies, innuendo and rumors.

Along with providing details about the shooting, Pitts helped detectives secretly record 120 hours of jailhouse conversations he had with Lewis. Also, Pitts testified before the grand jury. In addition, Pitts testified that he helped police solve two, unrelated murders — Davaun Dantaye Washington and Olee Evans — by telling them that their killer was Jimmy Hunter.

In February, Hunter was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the 2005 slayings of the two men. Pitts also had secretly recorded jailhouse conversations with Hunter and testified at his trial.

Pitts told jurors that he looked up to Lewis, who, he said, owned a motorcycle, a Cadillac and a truck. "He was the Big Homie. I was trying to be like the man," he said.

Pitts said he thinks about the pain he caused Williams' family, especially his mother, because she took care of Pitts when he was a young boy.

Williams' mother, who has been attending the trial, took a deep breath and began crying.

"I can't take this no more," she said as she left the courtroom.

Under cross-examination by Powell, Pitts said he didn't cry when he shot Williams. He got Williams to go to the rural area by telling him there were girls who wanted to meet him. He said Williams, who was a member of the Black Mafia, was a ladies' man.

Pitts said the murder weapon jammed after his first shot, but that didn't matter because he had planned to shoot Williams only one time, he said.

On Thursday, Pitts testified that Lewis wanted Williams dead as payback for allegedly being involved in the shooting of a close friend of Lewis. Also, Pitts testified, there were rumors that Williams was a police snitch.

Cross-examination is expected to continue Monday.

In exchange for his testimony, Pitts is expected to get 55 years to life in prison, according to prosecutors.

After the jury left, Powell told the judge that his client could testify next week but asked to have a hearing — outside the presence of jurors — to determine what areas the prosecution can legally explore if Lewis takes the stand. Prosecutor Cheryl Temple told the judge that she plans to introduce as evidence Lewis' criminal record, including two felony convictions for voluntary manslaughter and robbery, along with an uncharged robbery.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger agreed to take up those matters later.