The defense has begun presenting its case in the trial of the three men accused of covering up Robert Wone’s death.
The first defense witness is Nicholas Petraco, an independent forensic consultant who has worked for the New York City Police Department.
Petraco testified Thursday afternoon that he saw no distinctions among cotton fibers from the knife found near Wone’s body, a towel found at the scene and Wone’s T-shirt, all examined under a fluorescent microscope.
That means neither the towel nor the shirt can be excluded as the source of the knife’s fibers, he said, rebutting testimony from a prosecution witness that the fibers on the knife didn’t come from Wone’s shirt. Prosecutors say the knife was planted as part of the cover-up.
Joseph Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborksy are charged in connection with Wone’s Aug. 2, 2006, death in their Dupont Circle townhouse. All three face charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Earlier Thursday, a judge acquitted Ward and Zaborsky of tampering with evidence Wednesday.
