Prosecution, defense teams rest in Scott Brooks murder trial

CHARLOTTE — The prosecution and defense teams rested their cases Friday morning against suspects Terry Connor and Steven Staples, who are on trial for gunning down NoDa sandwich shop owner Scott Brooks.

Channel 9’s Hunter Sáenz has been in court since Day 1 as the trial took a major step forward.

Closing arguments will happen Monday with verdict possibly later in the day.

The case has taken six years to get to this point.

Medical examiner Dr. James Lozano took the stand Friday.

“I noted that Mr. Brooks had three gunshot wounds on his body,” Lozano said.

He told the jury that Brooks was shot once in the hand, grazed on his leg. The deadly shot was to his chest.

“This bullet entered here and wound up here in the lower back just behind the hip,” the medical examiner said. “It’s either coming from very up high or the person is bent over or facing a different way.”

That deadly bullet lodged inside Brooks’ lower back.

The bullet was passed around for the jury to see.

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Each defense team pointed out the medical examiner could not definitively say why the deadly bullet went in a downward direction. It could only list several possibilities.

Staples’ attorney wondered why it took 14 months for the medical examiner to sign off on Brooks’ report.

“But as you’re testifying today you can’t account for that extended period of time,” said Laura Baker, Staples attorney. “Is that a fair statement?”

“Yes,” Lozano said.

The prosecution rested after that testimony.

Neither defense team brought any evidence or put any witnesses on the stand, including Connor and Staples.

It’s been nine days of testimony and evidence, and the Brooks family has been there for all of them.

The case will be in the jury’s hand next week.

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On Thursday, prosecutors showed the jury cellphone data from phones tied to the suspects.

Those phones pinged near Brooks Sandwich House in the days before and the morning of Brooks’ death.

Connor and Staples are accused of robbing and killing Scott Brooks on Dec. 9, 2019, outside of Brooks’ Sandwich Shop.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

VIDEO: Prosecutors focus on phone records in Scott Brooks murder trial

Prosecutors focus on phone records in Scott Brooks murder trial