CHARLOTEE, NC (AP story from Pro-Life Infonet) -- Jurors in the Rae Carruth murder trial allowed a rare
glimpse into usually secret deliberations Wednesday when they viewed
several exhibits in open court. It's not unusual for jurors to view
exhibits in open court, but in this case, the jurors also discussed the
exhibits for about 20 minutes while reporters and other courtroom
observers watched.
``That's the first time I've ever really seen that in a courtroom,''
defense attorney David Rudolf said during a break. ``It's a little window
into jury deliberations you rarely see.''
On the second day of jury deliberations, the seven-man, five-woman panel
worked another three hours before breaking for lunch, then another three
before recessing for the day. The jury also deliberated about three hours
Tuesday.
After deliberating for about 30 minutes Wednesday, jurors asked to see
five exhibits, including photographs and a large map that included the
murder site. Rudolf objected to jurors taking the exhibits into the jury
room.
Judge Charles Lamm agreed and allowed jurors to view the exhibits in the
courtroom. The foreman asked that the map be placed on an easel, and
jurors gathered in groups, talking among themselves as they viewed the
exhibits.
The foreman used a pointer to locate various places on the map. One female
juror walked over to other jurors to discuss one of the exhibits.
Prosecutors say Carruth planned and helped carry out the Nov. 16, 1999,
shooting of his girlfriend, Cherica Adams, who was eight months pregnant,
to avoid paying child support when she refused to have an abortion. The
26-year-old Carruth, a former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers,
could get the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the
death of Adams, 24.
The defense said the shooting was carried out by Carruth's three
co-defendants after Carruth refused to finance a drug deal. Adams died a
month after the shooting. Her son, Chancellor, survived and lives with
Adams' mother.
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