SARASOTA — Early in 2024, Brennan Wakey filed a “stand your ground” motion to dismiss his homicide case.
Just before Christmas, a circuit judge rejected that argument — in part because of actions taken by the defendant, including deleting photos from the victim’s cell phone.
Wakey, 28, was arrested in December 2021 in connection to the death of Colton Wright in a Sarasota hotel room.
He has been charged with one count each of second-degree homicide and tampering with physical evidence.
In a motion filed in January 2024, Wakey said that he and Wright had been involved in a relationship for several months.
During that time, he alleged, Wright using methamphetamine, which made him confrontational and violent, according to court documents.
Wakey said he tried to help Wright by buying him meals and gifts, while trying to rein in his destructive tendencies.
He listed several confrontations he and Wright had in the months leading up to the latter’s death.
These events included Wright brandishing a knife while looking through a bag of stolen mail — which Wakey said was how Wright raised funds for meth purchases — and threatening to kill him after he refused to provide bail after an arrest.