Authorities have said that a defendant facing a California triple murder trial allegedly tried to solicit the killing of two witnesses in the case from his jail cell.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Friday that Yusuf Bey IV, 24, allegedly sent messages ordering Gary Popoff, 42, to kill the two witnesses.

The newspaper also said that the allegations were included in records of Popoff's parole revocation hearing last week.

Bey and an associate are charged with the 2007 killing of Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey and two other men.

The Chronicle further reported that Popoff, with convictions for burglary and theft, was arrested in Oakland Mar. 12 on the witness-intimidation allegations.

The report also noted that Popoff has "YBMB" tattooed on his arm -- referring to the Your Black Muslim Bakery formerly run by Bey -- and has confessed to being in debt to Bey, according to the parole revocation hearing summary.

The summary also said that Popoff "talked about wanting to help (Bey) in various ways."

According to the Chronicle, the report does not identify the two witnesses Bey is suspected of targeting. (With Inputs from Agencies)