ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A jailhouse phone call took center stage Wednesday as the trial continued for a man accused of killing a man whose body was found in the Ohio River in West Virginia.
Hubert Wingate is charged with homicide in the death of Andre Gray, who was reported missing from his Lawrenceville apartment in October 2014. Gray’s body was recovered from the Ohio River in March 2015.
Crime scene photos and recordings of an interview with Wingate were presented in court Tuesday.
Wingate was first interviewed by authorities in February 2015 as the search for Gray dragged on.
“The thing about me is you can tell when I'm trying to lie because I'm going to add half of the truth in it. I'm a stand-up guy,” Wingate could be heard saying in an interview prosecutors played in court Tuesday. “That was like my brother. I really loved him, the whole family. That hurt me when I found out that happened.”
Charges were later filed against Wingate. Police said a witness told them that Wingate killed Gray before going to the river in Arnold to dispose of the body, which he allegedly shot several times to help make it sink.
Photos from inside Gray’s apartment two days after his disappearance were shown Tuesday, bringing his mother to tears and causing her to leave the courtroom.
Bloodstained carpeting and duct tape were visible in the photos. Investigators said there was a strong odor of bleach in the apartment.
On Wednesday, prosecutors presented a 21-page jailhouse call transcript, as well as the 15-minute audio recording, which they said provides clear evidence that Wingate asked someone to act like they knew nothing about his involvement in Gray’s killing.
Wingate made the call on Sunday, March 1, 2016. In it, he’s heard telling an unidentified caller, “People might be calling you inquiring about me. You don't know a thing."
The person is then heard responding, "Wait, what?"
And later Wingate alludes to the caller, saying, "I'm trying to figure out ways to say certain stuff, man."
The prosecution's final witness, a detective, will take the stand Thursday.
Court officials said it's unclear who the defense will call up.
Wingate's trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
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