UTICA, N.Y. – A Wade hearing was held Friday in the case of Kwame Spratt, the man accused in a fatal stabbing over the summer.

A Wade hearing establishes the validity of the process used to identify a suspect. Police say Spratt was identified by a witness using a photo array.

Spratt allegedly stabbed and killed 33-year-old Thomas Bell during an altercation on Varick Street in July.

The defense and prosecution interviewed and cross examined five investigators involved in the case, including Joshua Austin, who responded to the crime when it was reported.

"I spoke to a sergeant who was handling the scene. He advised me that there was an individual Thomas Bell who had been stabbed. They originally responded to a fight -- Thomas Bell went to the hospital. I asked what his condition was, he said it didn’t look good,” said Austin.

Spratt is due back in court on Jan. 29, 2020 for a pretrial hearing, and jury selection is scheduled for early February.