CHARLOTTE N.C. (Court TV)— Jurors who have heard Rae Carruth described as a callous ladies' man and stonefaced murderer got a different view Tuesday morning as a string of witnesses portrayed him as a stand-up guy with a soft spot for children.

"He was just the sweetest person I knew. He would go out of his way for people," Carruth's friend Monique Young told jurors.

With her testimony and that of three others, the defense in the former NFL player's capital murder trial tried to chip away at the prosecution's claim that Carruth had his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams, killed to avoid paying child support.

The character witnesses were only one part of an eventful morning as the trial, now in its 21st day, resumed after a week-long holiday recess. A juror was dismissed, the local sheriff publicly denounced allegations of a cover-up by his officers and one defense witness offered testimony implying a conspiracy between two state witnesses. In the afternoon, Carruth's former attorney took the stand.

Judge Charles Lamm released a female juror who was diagnosed with a "life-threatening" medical condition over the break. According to the court, the woman, who sat in the second chair, had been suffering from migraines and was told by doctors that she had a disease of the carotid artery. She was replaced by a white woman, leaving the racial and gender makeup of the jury unchanged.

While Lamm seated the new juror, the Mecklenburg County sheriff was outside the courthouse vociferously denying charges made by one of his officers just before the holiday break. Testifying for the defense, jail guard Shirley Riddle said Van Brett Watkins, one of the hitmen allegedly hired by Carruth, confessed to her that the football player was not involved in the shooting. Riddle said she tried to report the admission but that her higher-ups sat on the information.

"No one in this agency was told to cover up anything at any time," Sheriff Jim Pendergraph told Court TV. He lamented the "gray cloud" cast over his department, but could not explain Riddle's allegations. He added that an ongoing internal investigation would determine the truth.

Testimony finally got underway with a former Red Lobster waitress casting doubt on assertions made by prosecution witness Candace Smith. Smith, a former girlfriend of Carruth, told jurors during the prosecution's case that Carruth confessed his involvement in Adams' murder. On cross-examination, the defense pressed her on her relationship with Watkins. She said she knew him only in passing and never socialized or talked with him.

But the waitress, Alece Alexander, testified that she often saw Watkins, who she knew by his nickname "New York," in Smith's company. A group including Watkins, Smith, her boyfriend and several others came into the restaurant a half dozen times, she said. Alexander later began dating the brother of Smith's boyfriend and said Watkins socialized with them and with Smith and was once introduced as a bodyguard.

"They talked as if it was just regular," she said of Watkins and Smith on one outing to a comedy club.

Alexander's testimony appeared to support Riddle's claim that she overheard Watkins, in a jailhouse telephone call, tell someone to contact "Candace" and tell her not to talk to police.

The defense used Alexander's testimony to cast further doubt on Smith's truthfulness. According to Alexander, Smith once introduced basketball player Charles Shackleford as her fiancee although, as he told jurors himself, he was married and Smith was simply his mistress.

Also testifying was George Laughren, the defense attorney who initially represented Carruth. Laughren said that he was surprised by the $3 million bail set for his client on what were then attempted murder charges.

George Laughren

Laughren said he had told Carruth before the bond hearing to be prepared to put up $50,000 or even $100,000.

"I thought that was an extremely high bond for what the charges were," he said.

Rudolf, who was hired by Carruth to replace Laughren after he was charged with capital murder, also asked the attorney about the former Carolina Panther's demeanor when he learned that Cherica Adams died.

"In my opinion, he was extremely upset and devastated," he said.

Laughren said he advised Carruth to turn himself in and told him that his bond would likely be revoked. He also informed his client that he would probably spend a year behind bars awaiting trial.

"He told me he needed some time to get his head together," Laughren testified. "He told me he was frightened, scared."

Despite his client's comments, Laughren did not believe Carruth was planning to flee, he said. Carruth fled North Carolina in the trunk of a friend's car but was captured by the FBI in Tennessee the following day.

The jury did not hear Laughren discuss every aspect of Carruth's case — particularly whether the former football player ever mentioned a drug deal gone awry, as the defense now maintains — because Carruth did not completely waive his attorney-client privilege.

The attorney was the only witness to take the stand yesterday afternoon, while character witnesses took the bulk of the morning. Melvin Fontes, Carruth's high school football coach and social studies teacher, recalled the defendant's schooling in Sacramento. He said he watched Carruth grow from a shy sophomore to a leader both on and off the field. He described Carruth as highly intelligent, but modest, and someone who never got into trouble at school.

"Rae could be my son. I love him that much. He's a great kid," Fontes said.

Also vouching for Carruth was Starlita Walker, a Charlotte single mother whose 7-year-old son was mentored by Carruth. Walker recounted how she and her son, Jacobi, met Carruth in 1999 at a barbershop they frequented. Carruth was immediately friendly to Jacobi, she said, taking him out for pizza and inviting him to join a T-ball team Carruth was coaching.

"Rae had a natural bond to Jacobi. He didn't have to adjust to being around him," she said.

Walker said Jacobi called Carruth "Uncle Rae," and the pair went bowling, to a movie or to other events about once a month.

"I was never allowed to stay when Rae had Jacobi because he felt I was making him into a mama's boy," Walker said. Outside of court, she said she and Jacobi still speak frequently to Carruth in jail.

Also praising Carruth's generosity was Morris "Rocky" Whittaker, who worked for the Carolina Panther's radio station. He said Carruth approached him and initiated a charity program for underprivileged boys in the community. Whittaker described a bowling party and video game tournament he helped Carruth plan, and said the football player seemed genuinely interested and concerned for the boys' future.

Carruth's attorneys have not revealed whether he will testify in his own defense. Testimony will continue Wednesday.