Fate Of Man Who Allegedly Beat Woman, Dismembered And Burned Her Body Rests In Jury's Hands
GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) - The fate of a man accused of beating a woman with a hammer, choking her to death, then dismembering and burning her body is in the hands of the jury.
Twenty-eight-year-old Walter Cable is accused of killing Ronny Cable, no relation. The woman's burned and dismembered remains were discovered about three weeks after she was reported missing in February 2017.
Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday morning, then the judge gave instructions to the jury before deliberation.
Defense attorney Tim Anderson's summation focused not on his client, but on co-defendant and prosecution's witness Devin Ackamici. Anderson asked the jury why Ackamici, who testified "he liked" Ronny Cable, did nothing as the 34-year-old was beaten with a hammer and strangled to death.
Anderson asked the jury what motive Walter Cable would have, suggesting Ackamici had a motive. He said Ackamici liked Ronny Cable and rekindled a relationship. Anderson asked if he was mad over Ronny Cable being an alleged "escort." Anderson also asked if Ronny Cable was going to walk a few hundred yards into the woods with a guy that she said allegedly tried to steal her jewelry.
In his closing, Assistant DA Pete Caravello tore into Walter Cable's testimony, saying all the evidence in the case shows Walter Cable killed Ronny Cable.
Caravello told the panel Walter Cable seems to have an explanation for everything, except where he was the night of the murder. He said one story is supported by physical evidence, one story is not. Caravello stated he didn't know why Walter killed Ronny. He says it was almost a perfect crime, except Walter Cable relied on his friend, Ackamici.
The jury deliberated for hours before going home Wednesday evening. They'll come back Thursday morning.
When he took the stand in his own defense Tuesday, Cable admitted he was with the woman and co-defendant Devin Akamichi on the night of Feb. 17, 2017. But he said after having a few beers, they dropped off the 34-year-old woman at her Vandergrift apartment.
Cable denied Akamichi's earlier testimony that he told the man he was going to kill Cable and steal her Adderal and money.
Akamichi told the jury last week after drinking at a Vandergrift bar, Cable told him to drive to his family property in Derry for a party. Once there, Akamichi said Cable beat the woman to death and burned her body.
Under oath, Cable said while his DNA was found in beer cans at the scene, he was not there for the murder. The accused killer was repeatedly asked if he killed Cable, with him denying it every time.
