Homicide suspect takes stand, accuses victim’s girlfriend in trial day 5
A defendant took the stand Friday in the fifth day of his homicide trial to accuse the victim’s girlfriend of an accidental shooting, then contradicted pieces of his own testimony.
Wiley Estill Gambrel, 59, of Uniontown is facing charges of homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and person not to possess a firearm for allegedly killing 45-year-old James “Jay” Plance on July 18 in Smithfield, loading his body into a cardboard box and taking it to his Georges Township HVAC shop. The shooting was allegedly committed in front of Deana Jean Hughes, 34, at the 280 Ringer Road trailer she shared with Plance.
Hughes and Plance had “threesomes” with Gambrel in exchange for crack cocaine, according to testimony. Hughes testified Gambrel became “obsessed” with her and wanted a relationship with her.
Gambrel sent a text to Hughes, saying he loved her “so much it hurts” and knew he would always be on the sidelines.
Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower questioned Gambrel about the text, first confirming the text was sent June 24, 2017.
“Approximately 3 1/2 weeks before you killed James Plance?” Bower asked.
“Yes,” Gambrel responded.
He told police he killed Plance during a recorded interview July 18, which was played for the jury Friday. In that interview, he said Plance would often “flip” when using crack cocaine. Gambrel said Plance was acting erratically, prompting Gambrel to grab a gun. He said Plance then grabbed a knife. Gambrel said he headed toward the door but instead shot Plance, claiming he feared for his life. With further questioning, he said he could have left through the door.
On the witness stand, Gambrel claimed he lied about shooting Plance.
“I did it to protect Deana,” he said. “She was the type of person I wanted to take care of.”
He said a conflict started as they were all smoking crack cocaine. Plance told Hughes the piece she took for herself was too big.
“She called him a ‘retard.’ He stood up, put his hands around her throat, and backed her up against the door,” Gambrel said.
He said Hughes grabbed the .22-caliber rifle and began “poking it” toward Plance. He claimed Plance grabbed for the gun, Hughes “jerked it back” and the gun “went off.”
On Wednesday, forensic firearms and toolmarks examiner Cpl. Robert Hagins testified he was unable to replicate an accidental discharge with the rifle during tests.
Gambrel testified Hughes appeared to be in shock after the shooting.
“I tried to get the rifle from her so I could put my arms around her and walk her out to the back porch,” he said.
He claimed he told Hughes to call 911 and said he’d “take the wrap.”
“It makes no sense you going to prison for this,” he claimed she responded. “We could take care of it.”
He claimed Hughes initiated the crime scene cleanup, grabbing towels from another room. Her clothes, which were admitted into evidence, did not appear to have bloodstains on them, while his pants and shoes appeared to have blood on them, police testified. Hughes had blood on her feet, but nowhere else on her body, though Gambrel testified he took a shower and she did not.
He told police in the interview he shot Plance at 4:30 a.m. A neighbor testified he saw Gambrel at his HVAC shop at 3540 Morgantown Road after hearing a noise and waking up after 4 a.m. Surveillance video appears to show Gambrel pulling into the shop at 3:45 a.m.
He testified he was there to pick up the cardboard box and tarp.
A second text message was admitted into evidence Friday sent from Plance to Gambrel at 1:21 a.m. July 17.
“”I think it’s best to end the friendship. Too much (expletive) going on with you,” lead investigator Tpr. Richard Sizer read from a printout of the text. “Sorry. Don’t know what else to do.”
Gambrel initially testified he had left his phone at the trailer at the time Plance sent the text. When Bower questioned Gambrel about whether he sent texts to drug dealers that night while arranging to buy crack cocaine, he said he had his phone to send the texts and changed his previous testimony. He said he “misstated” that he left it at the trailer.
Gambrel said he supported the couple’s crack cocaine addiction, spending up to $600 per day, in addition to buying them groceries. Now, he said he believes they were taking advantage of him.
The day of the shooting, Gambrel said he had diagnostics appointments for possible cancer. He said he remains undiagnosed and has not received treatment in the 11 1/2 months he spent at Fayette County Prison.
In his testimony Friday and his interview with police, he said he had seen Plance assault Hughes multiple times. Hughes told Gambrel multiple times Plance threatened to kill her, according to the recorded statement.
“I say, ‘Deana, why would you stay with that?” he said.
He testified he was concerned for her safety and offered her a place to stay if she wanted to leave the relationship.
Gambrel contended in both his testimony and his statement the rifle was already in the trailer. Hughes testified Gambrel went out to his van to get it just before the shooting. Assistant public defender Michael Aubele presented evidence earlier in the trial Plance and Hughes were planning to purchase a .22-caliber rifle.
When asked why Gambrel waited until Friday to say he gave a false confession, instead of asking to speak to police to correct his story, he claimed, “I didn’t know I was allowed to do that.”
Both the commonwealth and defense rested after testimony Friday. They will present closing arguments Monday.