DALLAS (AP) — Prosecutors in the murder trial of George Rivas said they will use the defendant's own words to show he is responsible for the Christmas Eve shooting death of an Irving police officer.

Rivas, the confessed ringleader of a gang of convicts that escaped Dec. 13 from a South Texas prison, has admitted to shooting Officer Aubrey Hawkins, who was hit 11 times by five different weapons outside a sporting goods store.

Hawkins "never had a chance," Dallas County prosecutor Toby Shook said during opening statements Monday.

"The evidence will show they planned for every possible scenario, including the arrival of a police officer," he told jurors.

He added: "Aubrey Hawkins walked right into an ambush," Shook said. "The shooting starts right away and it is rapid."

Rivas' lead defense attorney, Wayne Huff, told jurors his client never intended to kill anyone.

"The last thing any of these men wanted to do, particularly Mr. Rivas, is hurt anyone, let alone a police officer," Huff said. "They wanted to get the property, get away from Oshman's and get out of town."

While Rivas has admitted to his part in the shooting, it was unplanned, Huff said. Rivas only wanted to disarm Hawkins, but then other fefendants began firing and everyone suddenly was "in panic mode," Huff said.

The gang that came to be known as the Texas Seven broke out of the Connally Unit state prison near Kenedy on Dec. 13. Hawkins was killed 11 days later. The group eventually was captured in January in Colorado. One of them committed suicide as authorities closed in.

Rivas is the first of the remaining men to go on trial. All six face the death penalty or life in prison, if convicted.

Before opening arguments got under way Monday, state District Judge Judge Molly Francis ruled Rivas' 21-page confession could be used as evidence.

Hawkins' widow, Lori Hawkins, trembled as she testified Monday about the night of the shooting.

Jurors wiped away tears as Hawkins recounted her husband told her, "I'll see you in the morning, honey. I love you," as he left to investigate suspicious activity at the sporting goods store.

When a group of people came to her door a few hours later, she testified, she first thought they were Christmas carolers, then realized the police chief was one of them.

"I said, 'He's dead, isn't he?"' she told the jury.