Wilson admits to causing death of his wife

RALEIGH -- Jakiem Wilson, facing capital murder charges in the 2007 murder of his wife, conceded this morning to causing her death in hopes of facing a lesser charge.

At the start of jury selection, Wilson stood before Wake Superior Court Judge Henry Hight to say he understood the concession entered by his attorneys.

"We discussed the best way to go about the case and I agreed with them," he said.

Wilson is accused of killing his wife, Nneka Wilson, 24, the mother of two small children, at their home in February 2007. Prosecutors have said Wilson called two friends and told them to help him clean up evidence of the murder. Wilson then called emergency dispatchers and told them he discovered his wife's body and suspected someone had broken into the home.

Wilson conceded causing his wife's death in hopes of facing lesser charges, including second degree murder and manslaughter. Hight did not make a ruling on Wilson's concession, and it is unclear whether prosecutors will agree to try the case under lesser charges.

Meanwhile, jury selection will continue in the capital trial, the first Wake County death penalty case in a year. Jury selection is expected to be completed by June 30.