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| Updated
November 7, 2000 |
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| KEY
DOCUMENTS |
| THE AUTOPSY |
| Autopsy
of Cherica Adams |
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The
Mecklenburg County medical examiner's
report concludes Adams died from
"multiple organ system failure
due to gunshot wound to abdomen
and chest." (May 2, 2000)
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| THE 911 CALL |
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| THE LAW |
| The
Verdict Sheet |
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These are the official documents to be filled out when the jury reaches a verdict. (Jan.
16, 2001)
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| Jury Instructions |
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Judge Charles Lamm read the jury these instructions before he sent them out to begin deliberations. (Jan.
16, 2001)
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| The
Criminal Statutes |
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Rae
Carruth is charged with four crimes
under North Carolina law —
murder, conspiracy to commit murder,
use of a gun with the intent to
kill an unborn child, and discharging
a firearm into occupied property.
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| THE STATE'S FILINGS |
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Letter to Amber Turner |
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In this letter, the jailed football player writes his ex-girlfriend outlining what she is to say if pressed by investigators — statements Amber Turner claims are lies.
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Candace Smith's Proffer |
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Prosecution witness Candace Smith, Carruth's ex-girlfriend, alleges that the the ex-Carolina Panther allegedly told her incriminating statements in the hours following the shooting.
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| The
Indictment |
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Less
than a month after Adams died,
a Charlotte grand jury indicted
Carruth for her murder. (Jan.
4, 2000)
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| Evidentiary
Notices |
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In
these notices, the prosecution
tells the defense about key evidence
the state plans to use at trial,
including Adams' "pregnancy journal,"
and her deathbed statements to
investigators and hospital personnel.
(Oct. 2000)
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| Response
to Defense Motions |
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In
a terse two-page response to the
defense's lengthy motions, the
prosecution argues that under
North Carolina law, the jury is
permitted to hear certain evidence,
including Adams' deathbed statements
and testimony about Carruth's
flight to Tennessee. (Oct. 11,
2000)
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| THE
DEFENSE'S FILINGS |
| Psychiatrist's Report |
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Hired by the defense, Dr. Jonathan Gould interviewed 25 of Carruth's family, friends and acquaintances before preparing this evaluation of the player's personality and behavior. The report includes the doctor's notes on an interview with Amber Turner. (Jan. 9, 2001)
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| Carruth's Map |
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On the day before he was arrested, Carruth helped draw this map, illustrating the location where he claims he last saw Adams. He said she was following him in her car down Rea Road when she suddenly pulled alongside him and canceled their plans. The defense attempt to get the map admitted into evidence was DENIED (Dec. 19, 2000)
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| The
Drug Deal Theory |
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In
this motion, the defense presents
an alternate theory of the crime
— triggerman Watkins tried
to coerce Carruth into a drug
deal and killed Adams in a rage
after the football player refused.
The motion includes handwritten
notes from a sheriff's officer
to whom Watkins allegedly confessed.
(Oct. 18, 2000)
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| Request
for a Jury Questionnaire |
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In
this motion, the defense tries
to convince the court to use a
written questionnaire to select
jurors. Carruth's lawyers argue
that potential jurors will be
more open about their prejudices
in such a form than in open court.
(Oct. 11, 2000) GRANTED
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| The
Jury Consultant's Affidavit |
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Marjorie
Fargo, a sociologist hired by
the defense to help pick the jury,
explains the field of jury consulting
and how pretrial publicity in
the Carruth case could affect
the jury pool. (Oct. 11, 2000)
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| Opposition
to "Death-Qualified" Jury |
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In
this motion, the defense argues
that excusing members of the jury
pool who have ethical or religious
objections to the death penalty
is unfair to Carruth since "death-qualified"
juries "are unduly conviction
prone." (Oct. 5, 2000) DENIED
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| Editing
the 911 Tape |
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In
this motion, the defense asks
the court to redact some portions
of Adams' call for an ambulance.
Carruth's lawyers argue Adams'
statement that she "thinks" Carruth
is involved in the shooting is
not a fact, but only a guess that
would prejudice the jury. (Oct.
5, 2000) GRANTED
IN PART
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| Motion
to Suppress Adams Deathbed Words |
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In
this motion, the defense argues
that Adams' statements to emergency,
hospital and police personnel
should be excluded from the trial
because she was in shock or heavily-medicated.
(Oct. 5, 2000) DENIED
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| Motion
to Suppress Carruth's Statements to
Police |
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On
Nov. 24, the police questioned
Carruth about the shooting, but
his lawyers want his statements
excluded. They argue that his
Miranda rights were violated by
investigators. This motion includes
a four-page affidavit signed by
Carruth. (Oct. 4, 2000)
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| Motion
to Suppress Flight to Tennessee |
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When
Adams died several weeks after
the shooting, Carruth fled the
state, prompting a nationwide
manhunt. He was ultimately arrested
in Tennessee. The defense argues
in this motion that Carruth fled
because he believed only Adams
could vouch for his innocence,
and asks that the jury not hear
about the flight. (Oct. 5, 2000)
DENIED
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| Wanted:
Watkins' Psychiatric History |
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Is
triggerman Watkins psychotic?
In this motion, the defense asks
for the medical records of the
state's key witness, who Carruth's
attorneys suggest, is mentally
disturbed. (Oct. 3, 2000) DENIED
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| An
Objection to Media Leaks |
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In
this motion for a hearing, the
defense claims investigators are
leaking false and prejudicial
information to local newspapers.
(May 25, 2000)
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| Motion
to Suppress Co-Defendants Statements |
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The
defense argues that the statements
given by co-defendants Kennedy
and Watkins should be thrown out
because investigators used "improper
and suggestive interrogation techniques."
(May 8, 2000)
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