Prosecutors’ case against the three men accused of covering up the death of Robert Wone is based on “pure speculation,” the defense argued in court Wednesday afternoon.
In oral arguments and a 67-page motion, attorneys for Joseph Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky outlined why they think D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz should acquit the men on charges of conspiracy, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.
Defense attorney Robert Spagnoletti said there is no evidence that the knife found near Wone’s body on Aug. 2, 2006 was planted, that prosecutors can’t prove that the defendants made false statements in order to mislead the police and there was no motive for the alleged conspiracy.
But prosecutor Rachel Lieber contended that there is a “big difference between impermissible speculation and reasonable inference.”
Lieber said statements from the defendants placed all three in the room where Wone was killed within minutes of the slaying, where they had at least 17 minutes to conspire before calling 911.
The men are accused of covering up Wone’s death in their Dupont Circle townhouse. The prosecution rested its case Wednesday and Leibovitz is expected to rule on the motion for acquittal Thursday.
