UPDATE: Roanoke murder trial headed to jury

DAY 4, FRIDAY

The murder trial of Gene Brown is now in the hands of a jury.

Brown is accused of killing Steve Orange Jr. in July of 2011. Orange was working as a security guard at a Roanoke apartment complex when he was shot six times.

In closing arguments Thursday morning, Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil said that in order to convict someone of first-degree murder, you don’t have to know exactly who the trigger man is.

Brown’s defense attorney, C.J. Covati, was trying to prove earlier in the case that Brown’s half-brother, Will Wright, was the one who killed Orange. Covati said that Wright had been bragging that he was the trigger man. A forensic scientist testified Thursday that the DNA of Wright and Brown were found on the gun.

The jury will begin deliberations following a lunch break. The jury is made up of 11 women and two men.

WDBJ7’s Chris Hurst is in court, and will have more tonight at 5 and 6.

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DAY 3, THURSDAY

The commonwealth's attorney rested its case Thursday morning in a Roanoke murder trial.

Gene Brown faces life in prison for the shooting death of security guard Steve Orange in July 2011.

A forensic scientist testified Thursday that DNA found on the murder weapon belonged to Brown and his half- brother, Will Wright.

Earlier in the trial, Brown's attorney said that Wright was telling people that he was the shooter.

WDBJ7's Chris Hurst is in court, and will have more on the testimony tonight.

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DAY 2, WEDNESDAY

The cellmate of Gene Brown testified in court Wednesday that Gene Brown confessed to killing Steve Orange Jr.

Orange was working as a security guard at a Roanoke apartment complex in July of 2011 when he was murdered. Brown has been charged with Orange’s death.

In court Wednesday Carlos Jeune testified that he had been cellmates with Brown ever since Brown was arrested. Jeune had been in jail since 2010 on armed robbery charges.

Jeune testified that Brown originally told him that he didn’t kill Orange, but then later then confessed to the killing. Jeune also said that Brown provided details of the killing, including that Orange was shot in the neck and that the murder weapon was a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Under cross examination Brown’s attorney, C.J. Covati, brought up that Jeune received a plea deal for his testimony. Jeune’s sentence was reduced to three years in prison.

Jeune also testified that Brown told him that he was worried about leaving evidence on the gun, so he cleaned it with bleach.

According to Jeune, Brown told him that the reason he killed Orange was because he believed Orange sexually assaulted his girlfriend, Ashley Fox. Jeune said that Brown also believed that Orange harassed Brown’s nephews, who also lived at the apartment complex.

Jeune and Brown were rival gang members.

WDBJ7's Chris Hurst was in court today. For more on this story tune into our newscasts at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

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12:40 p.m. UPDATE: Testimony for Day 2 of the Gene Brown trial is under way in Roanoke court.

Brown is charged with the murder of Steve Orange Jr., who was working as a security guard at a Roanoke apartment complex when he was shot six times and killed on July 13, 2011.

The lead detective in the case testified Wednesday that investigators have been focusing on one suspect, Gene Brown.

On Tuesday Brown’s attorney, C.J. Covati, said that Brown’s half-brother, Will Wright, had been bragging that he shot and killed Orange.

During opening arguments Tuesday assistant commonwealth’s attorney John McNeil said that Brown confessed to his cellmate, Carl Jeune, that he killed Orange.

Jeune is expected to testify Wednesday afternoon.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst is in court. We will have more during our 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

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DAY 1, TUESDAY

The partner of a security guard who was killed outside of a Roanoke apartment complex in July 2011 testified in court Tuesday afternoon that he saw Steve Orange Jr. take his last breath.

David Boggs testified that around 1:30 a.m. on July 13, 2011, he heard six shots fired. He tried to contact Orange on his radio, but didn’t get a response. Boggs testified that he went to Orange’s car and found him gasping for air, and then saw him take his last breath.

Gene Brown is on trial for Orange’s death. Orange was a security guard at the Afton Gardens Apartments

Following Boggs’ testimony, officers that arrived on scene testified.

Several questions Tuesday referenced an incident in March 2011 where Orange responded to the apartment of Brown’s girlfriend.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst is in court. We will have more during our 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

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12:25 p.m.: During opening arguments Tuesday, assistant commonwealth’s attorney John McNeil said that the prosecution hopes to prove that Gene Brown “brutally and senselessly executed” Steve Orange Jr. because Brown felt that Orange was targeting him, and that Orange had sexually assaulted Brown’s girlfriend.

Orange was found dead in July of 2011 inside his car at Afton Gardens Apartments, where he was a security guard. Orange was shot six times. He had been a security guard at the Roanoke apartment complex since February of 2011.

The prosecution is also trying to prove that the murder weapon was found in the possession of Brown’s girlfriend. The commonwealth’s attorney says that Brown confessed to his cellmate, Carl Jeune, that he killed Orange. Jeune is being held on robbery charges.

Brown’s attorney, C.J. Covati, says that Brown didn’t kill Steve Orange. The defense contends that Brown’s half-brother, Will Wright, was with Brown on the night Orange was murdered. Covati says that Wright has been confessing to people around town that he killed Orange. The defense says that Wright has had nightmares about Orange’s death.

Witnesses are expected to start testifying Tuesday. The jury is made up of 11 women and two men.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst is in court. We will have more during our 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.

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A jury has been seated in the trial of a man accused of killing a security guard in Roanoke in July of 2011.

Gene Brown is on trial for the death of Steve Orange Jr. Orange was found dead in his vehicle at Afton Gardens Apartments on July 13, 2011.

On Tuesday morning a jury was seated. The court is now in recess for lunch.

Witnesses are expected to testify Tuesday afternoon.

WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst is in court, and will have more during our 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts.