A prominent forensic pathologist testified that a cable contraption police found attached to a dog leash in the home of Brian David Hummert is "very likely" the weapon used to strangle homicide victim Charlene Hummert.

Monday afternoon, jurors watched the taped videotape deposition of Dr. Isidore Mihalakis, founder of Forensic Pathology Associates in Allentown.

Holding a metal cable coated in red plastic, Mihalakis noted that the marks on Charlene Hummert's neck were "consistent" with features on the cable, including a bolt and a black protrusion.

"My opinion is the cable ... is very likely" the homicide weapon, he testified.

Earlier in the trial, which began last Tuesday, jurors saw photographs of items taken during a search of the Hummerts' Fairview Township home, including the cable, which was attached to a dog leash. The cable has been fitted with bolts and has a T-type grip at one end.

The background: Brian Hummert, 50, is accused of strangling his wife of 22 years in their 10 Boeing Road home on March 19, 2004.

Her body was later found in the cargo area of her Land Rover, which was left in the parking lot of the Giant Food Store at 130 Old York Road in Fairview Township, not far from the Hummerts' home. She was covered with a blanket identified as having come from their home.

In October 2005, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder; in December he was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. However, he later withdrew that plea.

Jurors won't hear about the previous guilty plea because of its potential for bias, according to chief deputy prosecutor Chuck Patterson.

During his plea hearing a year ago, Brian Hummert admitted he strangled his wife after she "came at me" with a jump rope. However, Patterson said evidence shows Charlene Hummert, 48, was the victim of a surprise attack and was strangled from behind.

Expert soil analysis: Also testifying yesterday was Skip Palenik, a microtrace analyst from Elgin, Ill.

He has been involved in high-profile cases including the investigation of Green River serial killer Gary Ridgway, who murdered 48 women in the Seattle area, and the JonBenet Ramsey murder, according to his Web site.

At the request of Fairview Township Police Detective Jason Loper, Palenik compared soil samples from the Hummerts' driveway with soil stains found on the back of the sweatpants Charlene Hummert was wearing when her body was found.

He testified that both samples shared specific minerals, asphalt and other qualities.

"It would be impossible to distinguish soil from the driveway from soil from the victim's pants," Palenik said.

Investigators believe the soil sample got on the victim's pants when her body was dragged to her Land Rover.

Jailhouse informant Ervin Billet Jr. also took the stand Monday.

Alleged confession: He told jurors he was held in the same "pod," or unit, as Hummert was, and that Hummert confessed to strangling his wife.

During cross-examination, chief public defender Bruce Blocher repeatedly asked Billet whether he'd specifically tried to elicit a confession from Hummert.

He also got Billet to admit he'd acted as a police informant in the past.

Blocher's questioning also revealed that Billet could not remember many other details about the conversation, which he'd testified to in December 2004 during Hummert's preliminary hearing.

Billet said he came forward because "I didn't want anybody else to go through what she went through."

Brian Hummert is charged with first- and third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, making false reports to law enforcement, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and hindering apprehension or prosecution.