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| Thursday, January 11 Associated Press | |||
| CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Closing arguments in the murder trial of
former NFL player Rae Carruth were postponed Thursday after the
lead prosecutor became ill.
Judge Charles Lamm said prosecutor Gentry Caudill was sick, then
delayed closing arguments until Monday.
He said Caudill "didn't know if it was something he ate, or a
virus, or a flu bug."
Caudill told the judge that he was prepared to begin closing
arguments Friday morning, but defense attorney David Rudolf
objected, saying he didn't want the prosecution's closing statement
to be the only thing on jurors' minds over the weekend.
The judge then told jurors, who have heard testimony from nearly
70 witnesses and examined hundreds of exhibits, that they would
have to wait until Monday morning before hearing closing arguments.
Prosecutors contend that Carruth, a former professional football
player for the Carolina Panthers, arranged the 1999 shooting of his
pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, to avoid having to pay child
support.
Defense attorney David Rudolf has argued that Carruth, one of
four defendants in the case, was not involved in the killing. The
defense claims that Adams was shot by a drug dealer the NFL player
had refused to finance.
After both sides summarize their cases, Lamm will instruct
jurors on how the law requires them to weigh the evidence.
No one is expecting a quick decision by the jury after the long
and emotional trial, which began nearly three months ago.
Jurors could recommend the death penalty if they determine that
Carruth plotted the Nov. 16, 1999 shooting of Adams, who was eight
months pregnant at the time.
Adams died a month after the shooting; her son was delivered by
emergency Caesarean section immediately after the shooting and is
living with Adams' family.
| ALSO SEE
Carruth case closing arguments on tap | ||