PITTSBURGH -- A man accused of trying to use a subliminal cassette tape to convince one child to kill another is going to go to trial.

Donald Winniewicz is accused of making and playing the shocking tape to persuade his 10-year-old stepson to kill the boy's 4-year-old brother.

There was testimony Wednesday that the older child never heard the tape that police said was supposed to be played while he was asleep.

Winniewicz did not testify or talk to reporters at his preliminary hearing.

But police officer in the courtroom said Winniewicz was quoted as allegedly encouraging his 10-year-old stepson, Shane, to kill his 4-year-old son, Noah.

Police said Winniewicz admitted to playing the tape last Halloween while Shane was sleeping, allegedly to encourage him to choke Noah or smother him with a pillow.

Later in the tape, police said, "Why haven't you (Shane) done this yet? If you love Grandma, you will do this."

Winniewicz's wife, Nancy, found the cassette tape at their Houston, Washington County, home this month and called police.

Nancy testified, "There were things on that tape that concerned me. The safety of my children and myself."

The suspect's attorney, Michael DeRiso, argued there was no proof the boy had heard the tape or that a crime had been committed.

"I think he's very sorry this happened. He wishes now he never thought of such an idea. But no way did he want anything harmful to come about to his children," DeRiso said.

Police suggested Winniewicz may have concocted the tape recording as a way having authorities intervene to keep the 10-year-old from seeing his grandparents.

Winniewicz is free on $50,000 bond.