Attorney attempts to cast doubt on who was responsible for city shooting
It’s been more than 5½ years since a resident of Washington’s West End was slain and the man’s girlfriend survived a shooting.
On Thursday in Washington County Court, the attorney for the man who’s been in jail awaiting trial on charges of homicide and attempted homicide during those years questioned a city policeman about events of Jan. 8, 2013.
Due to a mixup, the accused, Brandon Wolowski, 23, of Washington, wasn’t brought to court from Allegheny County jail, as anticipated, for a hearing in Washington County Court before Judge John DiSalle.
The judge, however, permitted city police Sgt. Carl Martin to testify about his role in the investigation of the slaying of Matthew Mathias, 37, of Fayette Street, Washington, and the shooting of his girlfriend, Michelle Powell, 38.
Wolowski’s court-appointed attorney, Noah Geary, introduced a transcript from 911 emergency dispatch in which a dispatcher noted Powell’s call for help after “her boyfriend shot her in the face” and identified him as Matthew Matthias.
The police sergeant told the judge he arrived at Fayette Street, where Powell described the shooter as “Brandon,” who had an unusual last name and dark hair.
“Did you learn subsequently she was high on crack cocaine?” Geary asked, adding a question about Powell being under the influence of alcohol.
Martin said he could not remember. Powell was not present in court Thursday.
Geary said after the hearing he expected to obtain, in addition to the transcript of the 911 call, an actual recording.
Deputy District Attorney Leslie Ridge asked the police sergeant for his recollection of Powell appearing to be under the influence, and Martin noted she had been shot in the face and in the arm and was being treated to stop her bleeding.
Martin said Matthias was already dead.
Police soon received a tip from an informant that Wolowski was inside an apartment at the rear of a residence in the 800 block of Addison Street.
Although it was January, there was a man fitting Wolowski’s description who was sweating profusely while clad in a tank top and basketball shorts.
The basement apartment dweller told police a perspiring Wolowski had arrived asking for a change of clothing, but when he was rebuffed, he went into the bathroom and removed garments.
DiSalle expects to resume the hearing Monday morning with testimony from additional witnesses.
Police previously said the homicide and attempted homicide occurred during a robbery of guns.
Wolowski is expected to stand trial this fall, when the prosecution will be seeking the death penalty.