Former NBA Player Testifies Against Carruth
C H A R L O T T E, N.C., Dec. 5 -- Prosecutors attempting to affirm a formergirlfriend’s testimony that Rae Carruth confessed to a drive-byshooting brought a former NBA player to the stand.
Charles Shackleford, previously with the Charlotte Hornets,testified Monday in Carruth’s murder trial that Candace Smithrelayed to him what she said Carruth told her following theNovember 1999 shooting of Cherica Adams.
Smith testified last week that Carruth, then with the NFL’sCarolina Panthers, told her he planned the shooting of Adams, whowas pregnant with Carruth’s child.
Story of Fear
Smith “said he basically confessed to her at the hospital aboutwhat happened,” Shackleford said in testimony Judge Charles Lamm told jurors to disregard.
Shackleford, a former member of the Charlotte Hornets now livingin Myrtle Beach, S.C., also testified that Smith said Carruth toldher “he had something to do with whatever happened to Cherica.”
When she told him this, “she seemed a little afraid,”Shackleford said. “She had tears in her eyes,” he added, whenasked by the prosecutor if Smith were crying.
Shackleford returned to the witness stand Tuesday forcross-examination by defense attorney David Rudolf. Rudolf’s earlyquestions concentrated on what Shackleford knew about Smith’srelationship with Carruth and when he learned about Adams’shooting.
On Monday, he admitted neither he nor Smith wanted to beinvolved in the case against Carruth. But after Carruth fled toTennessee following Adams’ death last December, Shackleford said hehired an attorney for both himself and Smith.
Shackleford said he was married at the time he was having anaffair with Smith, a previous girlfriend of Carruth’s. Shacklefordand Smith met at a Charlotte strip club where Smith worked as adancer.
Sanctions Against Police
Lamm said Monday he would consider sanctions against police, whodefense attorneys claim kept them in the dark about drug activityby co-defendant Michael Eugene Kennedy.
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