Trial begins for man charged with trying to have lover killed

The trial began Tuesday for a Silver Spring man facing criminal charges that he asked two men to kill his lover after purchasing more than $400,000 in life insurance in the man’s name.

Erik Collins, 44, was indicted in March on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder because he allegedly offered to pay two District men to kill Lorenzo Boone, according to court documents. One of the men contacted D.C. police, who then initiated an undercover sting operation.