The jury was not in the courtroom when Wilson mimed the threat, but Judge Glynnis Hill allowed Fertel to question Savage about it when the jury returned. A deputy sheriff also testified about the threat.
Defense attorney Douglas Lee Dolfman attributed the incident to the "clear animosity between the two of them. Savage is going to be spending his life in prison and he'll do anything to get in the favor of the federal government."
Savage was indicted and then pleaded guilty in a federal drug conspiracy case in 2008. He is to be sentenced next month by a federal judge in Philadelphia and faces a no-parole sentence of 37 years to life. Under federal law, the federal prosecutor may file a motion allowing the judge to sentence below the recommended sentence if Savage has helped prosecutors in other cases.
Wilson will be sentenced Nov. 2 and Fertel said she would seek the statutory maximum. Wilson faces a mandatory five to 10 years in prison because the crime was committed with a gun. Fertel said he could also be sentenced to consecutive sentences of 20 to 40 years on the count of attempted murder and on a count of robbery.
According to Fertel, Savage was shot by Wilson on July 12, 2008, as he left the Latin Bar at Eighth Street and Lycoming Avenue in North Philadelphia.
Fertel said Wilson walked up to Savage and pointed a gun against his chest, and robbed Savage of a gold chain and watch worth $20,000 as well as $1,000 in cash.
"If you're looking for me, they call me 'Scarface Kev,' " Wilson told Savage before he pulled the trigger and shot him in the chest.
Fertel said the bullet went through Savage's body and Savage drove himself to the emergency room of Temple University Hospital where he was treated and released after several days.
Savage would not cooperate with police questioning him about the shooting. It was not until two years later, after the federal indictment, that Savage began cooperating with authorities.
Wilson was arrested in June 2010.
Contact Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2985, jslobodzian@phillynews.com, or @joeslobo on Twitter.
