A friend who had sexual relations with two of the three men accused of covering up Robert Wone’s death testified Monday about what they said happened the night Wone was killed in their Dupont Circle townhouse.
Friend and neighbor Scott Hixson described the three-way relationship between Joseph Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky as “progressive” and said he had had intimate relations with Price and Ward separately.
Attorneys for Price, Ward and Zaborsky objected to that testimony.
But D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz said relationships between a witness and the defendants are relevant in evaluating witness credibility.
The morning after Wone’s Aug. 2, 2006, death, Price told Hixson he pulled a knife out of Wone’s body, Hixson testified.
Much testimony in the trial, now in its fourth week, has centered on that knife. Prosecutors say the knife found at the scene was planted as part of the cover-up and was not used to kill Wone.
The defendants are charged with conspiracy, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice,
Testimony from another witness, Metropolitan Police Detective. Gail Russell-Brown, also touched on Wone’s body.
Zaborsky told the detective that he and Price found Wone with his hands folded across his abdomen, she testified.
She said Zaborsky told her he left the guest room to call 911. When he returned, Wone’s left hand was on his stomach, but his right hand was raised.
Testimony Monday also focused on Michael Price, Joseph Price’s brother. Prosecutors have tried to depict Michael Price as a potential culprit for Wone’s death, giving the three defendants motive for a cover-up. Joseph Price also allegedly neglected to tell police his brother had a key to the townhouse.
After the home was burglarized in October 2006, Hixson testified, Ward and Zaborsky suspected Michael Price was the perpetrator but didn’t immediately call police.
Instead, they waited to talk with Joseph Price because a family member was involved, Hixson said.
Ward asked Hixson to accompany him to the house, Hixson testified, because Ward thought Michael Price might be there and under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Michael Price was later arrested for that burglary.
Russell-Brown also described an encounter with Michael Price.
At Wone’s funeral, she said, Michael Price approached her, cursing and yelling that police should “be out looking for the real person who did this, not looking at my brother.”
