A Butler County man testified in court Friday that he fatally shot a Murrysville man at the urging of his uncle because the uncle promised to get him a work truck.

Braden N. Elliott, 20, of Chicora testified that his uncle, Jeremy T. Fisher asked Elliott on Dec. 26 to kill Fisher’s business associate, George Dayieb.

Prosecutors allege that Fisher wanted Dayieb killed because Fisher couldn’t pay back $400,000 he owed the victim.

Elliott testified Friday against Fisher, 41, of Coraopolis, and a second co-defendant, William Fortuna, 58, of Conway, during preliminary hearings for both men. Homicide, conspiracy and related charges against Fortuna and Fisher were ordered held for court after the 3½-hour proceeding.

Elliott testified that on the day after Christmas, he repeatedly refused Fisher’s request.

The next day, Fisher asked again, promising his nephew a work truck if he killed the Murrysville man, according to Elliott’s testimony.

This time, Elliott relented.

That decision set in motion what prosecutors say was a plan to kill Dayieb and hide his body at a remote Clarion County camp.

“Did you shoot George Dayieb?” Assistant District Attorney Emma Schoedel asked Elliott.

“Yes, that’s correct,” he replied.

Dayieb, 57, was reported missing Dec. 27, and police found the Ford F-350 he drove that day abandoned near McKees Rocks, Allegheny County Homicide Detective Steve Hitchings testified.

Police said in court papers they believed the killing was over a $400,000 debt Fisher owed Dayieb for purchasing a piece of equipment for him. The two were to meet in Coraopolis and then head to Butler County to get the money.

Hitchings indicated that Fisher didn’t have close to the means to repay the debt. “He was living paycheck to paycheck.”

Elliott testified with the help of an American Sign Language interpreter who translated questions being asked of him by attorneys, though he appeared at times to look at the attorney while they were speaking and respond directly.

His testimony went into great detail about his recollection of Dec. 27.

Elliott said after he agreed to kill Dayieb, Fisher gave him a gun. Prosecutors believe Fortuna supplied the gun to Fisher, his boss.

Fisher prepared his Ram 3500 for the killing by putting a blanket on the passenger seat and removing the head rest, according to testimony.

At some point after Dayieb got in the truck, Elliott, who was in the back seat, testified he pointed the gun at the back of Dayieb’s head and pulled the trigger while they were traveling on Interstate 376, but it didn’t go off.

He texted Fisher and Fortuna with coded language to tell them there was a problem with the gun.

“I was told to use anything (code words for the body or gun in the text messages) and they will know what I was talking about,” Elliott said.

Fortuna, who was following the trio in his Dodge Ram, and Fisher stopped at a gas station in Butler County where Elliott said he took the gun to Fortuna for help, then went into the restroom.

“I was, like, really nervous and I was scared,” Elliott testified. “I just did it because he told me everything was going to be fine.”

The four men continued on their way. When Fisher texted Elliott “now,” Elliott said he waited a few seconds then pulled the trigger again. This time, the gun fired.

Fisher and Fortuna told Elliott to take Dayieb to a camp property in Clarion County. Elliott drove Fisher’s truck there and waited, expecting the other two men come help.

Instead, they headed back toward Pittsburgh where authorities believe Fisher got rid of Dayieb’s cell phone in the Ohio River while Fortuna drove, according to testimony.

Elliott testified he moved Dayieb’s body into a travel trailer at Fortuna’s instruction and tried to leave, but got the truck stuck in mud. Fortuna picked him up and they went to Fisher’s house where Elliott showered and gave Fortuna his clothing, according to testimony.

Dayieb’s body was found in the trailer Dec. 29 by police. They also noticed tracks in the mud that indicated a vehicle had gotten stuck, Allegheny County Homicide Detective Dale Canofari testified.

Prosecutors presented during the preliminary hearing text message conversations among Fisher, Fortuna and Elliott the day of the shooting. Allegheny County Homicide Detective Nicole DePaoli said after the failed shooting attempt, Fisher texted Fortuna at 11:04 a.m. as they were driving looking for another gun, but Fortuna responded that he didn’t have a spare.

DePaoli testified that Fisher wrote back to Fortuna, that it “has to happen.”

Police also used surveillance video and license plate readers to piece together what they believe happened to Dayieb and the suspects’ movements after the killing.

Schoedel, the assistant district attorney, argued that both Fisher and Fortuna played a role in the death and conspired together to carry out the plan. The lack of confusion when Elliott used coded language in text messages shows both suspects had knowledge of what was going on, she said.

“It’s not just Braden’s statements,” she argued. “Today, the commonwealth has provided corroboration.”

District Judge Michele K. Santicola said it was clear from the evidence that some of the text messages were sent by people traveling in the same vehicle.

“I think the commonwealth has definitely established those text messages were between these folks,” she said.

Elliott waived his right to a preliminary hearing in January. He testified Friday that he isn’t receiving any kind of favorable treatment by prosecutors in exchange for his testimony.

“You have to wonder what his motive is for blaming everybody else,” defense attorney Wendy Williams said after the hearing.

She is representing Fisher. Williams suggested Elliott didn’t like Dayieb and questioned the supposed debt being a motive.

“Mr. Elliott was the sole trigger-puller, he took the body to Clarion County … and he disposed of it by himself,” she said.

Attorney Steve Colafella said Elliott’s testimony showed Fortuna, who he represents, was not present during conversations Elliott and Fisher had about the purported plan. Authorities have not located the gun.

”There’s really no motive for Bill Fortuna to be involved,” Colafella said after the hearing.

All three suspects remain jailed.

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