THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408250582
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Lt. Cmdr. Michael Fricke said little to incriminate himself in phone conversations about the slaying of his wife that were secretly taped by police.
But neither did Fricke turn in the caller, who talked in detail about his role as middleman in the alleged murder-for-hire scheme.
Fricke's silence about the phone calls is evidence of his guilt, prosecutors have claimed.
Tapes of the conversations were played Wednesday for the Navy jury hearing Fricke's court-martial on charges of premeditated murder in the fatal shooting of his wife.
The trial is in its second week at Norfolk Naval Base. Fricke could get the death penalty if he is convicted.
Fricke is accused of agreeing to pay $25,000 to have his wife killed so that he could prevent her from divorcing him and taking custody of their son, then 13 months old.
Roxanne Fricke, 31, was gunned down May 13, 1988, while getting into her car in the parking lot of a Virginia Beach supermarket.
Gilroy Lamar Brunson, who has told police he located a triggerman for Fricke and passed money between them, cooperated with investigators by making the phone calls to Fricke's Navy office in Columbus, Ohio, last year.
At the time of the slaying, Brunson and Fricke were stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.
Here are highlights of the first call, made on Jan. 27, 1993. Angelo Rivera, named by Brunson, was accused of being the triggerman in the case but was later freed because prosecutors deemed Brunson's testimony unreliable.
Brunson: Well, thing one. I got contacted by the Virginia Beach Police Department, this in regards to the shooting of your wife. Two, uhh, Angelo, he, well basically we're both panicking right now. . . . Uhh, I wanted to know had anybody contacted you about anything?
Fricke: No. But I don't know. I don't have any idea what you're talking about there.
Brunson: Excuse me? This is Lamar, Mike. Is there somewhere you can. . . . I can call you back if you can't talk? What I'm saying is that this . . .
Fricke: I don't know what I can tell you.
(Brunson says he won't ``take the rap'' and that ``me, you and Rivera'' must discuss their stories to keep them straight.)
Brunson: OK. If you don't mind me asking, 'cause I think Rivera might know this . . . But was he paid everything? Cause if I'm not mistaken . . .
Fricke: I don't. I don't, Lamar, I don't really want to discuss anything and I don't know anything you're talking about, OK?
Brunson: Mike, don't do this to me.
Fricke: It was a lot of years ago and I'm putting everything behind me.
(Brunson says he may have to make a deal with police to save himself.)
Fricke: I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about there. But like I said, if you are in some sort of trouble, if you've honestly done something wrong, they will come and talk to you about it. They would have arrested you if you did something wrong.
Brunson: But . . .
Fricke: If they didn't, they - all they're doing is . . .
Brunson: Bluffing.
Fricke: . . . trying to bluff you, exactly. So if you did nothing wrong just stay with whatever you said, you know. The truth that you told them, stay, you know. Be consistent and you have nothing to worry about.
Brunson: What if Rivera talks? What if my story is straight because I'm just. OK, I'm in this . . .
Fricke: I don't know who that is. But what I'm saying to you is if he's in the same situation, I would tell him to do the same thing. Because the same situation holds true for him and they were discussing something with you, concerning something with you that might have transpired or might have happened. If there was validity there. If they had facts, they would have put you in custody. If they didn't, they would be talking to you hoping that you would talk or say something, or trip yourself up or whatever. I would tell him the same thing that I'm saying to you. ILLUSTRATION: Color illustration by ALBA BRAGOLI
Lt. Cmdr. Michael Fricke, foreground right, and norfolk FBI Agent
Richard A. Oberlander, in the witness stand, listen to taped phone
conversations during Fricke's court-martial Wednesday.
FROM THE TAPE
Gilroy Lamar Brunson, alleged accomplice: ``I got contacted by
the Virginia Beach Police Department, this in regards to the
shooting of your wife.''
Lt. Cmdr. Michael Fricke, speaking later: ``I don't really want
to discuss anything, and i don't know anything you're talking about,
OK?''
Brunson: ``Mike, don't do this to me.''
Fricke: ``It was a lot of years ago, and I'm putting everything
behind me.''
KEYWORDS: MURDER COURT MARTIAL MURDER FOR HIRE
by CNB