Friends take stand on day one of Roberts murder trial
Darryl Roberts walking into his murder trial, charged in the killing of Chris Wright.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- In September 2023, a prominent Chattanooga businessman was murdered in front of Patten Towers on Market Street.
A year and a half later, the trial of the man charged with killing him has begun.
After an argument late on the evening of September 28, 2023, Christopher Wright was shot dead.
Darryl Roberts is charged with first degree murder in the killing.
On Monday we heard more about what led up to their fateful encounter.
At the time of the shooting, Roberts was with Bryan Houston, who says they were best friends.
He described how the encounter between Roberts and Wright was nothing unusual.
Houston said, “It’s an area where there is a lot of homelessness and a lot riff raff going around there so at the same time, it’s just a typical normal day to tell someone to get out of my face. For things, you know, get on man! I’m traumatized! I’ve been through a lot in my life for someone to just come busting up on my face.”
However, things began to escalate, but what was exactly said is unclear.
Prosecutor Paul Moyle asked, “Were racial slurs used?”
Houston responded, “No.”
Moyle asked, “The man said nothing, isn’t that right?”
Houston said, “That’s what I said.”
Wright was downtown with one of his best friends, Britton Hall-Brantley, who was visiting for a Baylor alumni reunion.
He said they had spent the day together doing various activities and drinking.
Brantley said he last saw Wright at a local bar before returning to his hotel, where he would not learn of his friend’s death until the next morning.
He said, “Chris was my best friend. He was the kind of guy you aspire to be. He just kinda made the moments more enjoyable for everybody around him.”
New surveillance video shows Roberts went back to his apartment after the shooting, punching an elevator wall in the process.
A woman is seen leaving his apartment with a yellow bag, the contents of which are unknown.
Houston said that this incident leaves him flustered.
He said, “It’s like I couldn’t get no words out. Like I tried to say something at the time, but it couldn’t come out.”
Additionally, text messages were shown that Roberts sent from his phone immediately after the shooting.
Investigator James Belkom of the Chattanooga Police Department read one of those texts from Roberts which said, “I don’t know. I don’t really want to go there. Can you send me enough for a burner phone and so I can get around? Bro I (expletive) up bad.”
The trial continues into Wednesday as the Prosecution continues their case.
