Defendant in death of UNC student in court on probation violation

RALEIGH (AP) — Prosecutors have begun the process of revoking the probation of one of the two men charged with murder in the slaying of University of North Carolina student body president Eve Carson.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that Demario James Atwater appeared Monday in a Wake County courtroom, where he learned he would return to court May 1 to further discuss the violations. Raleigh attorney Rudy Renfer was present during the 10-minute hearing to represent the 21-year-old Atwater.

Carson was killed March 5, a few days after Atwater was first scheduled to appear on the probation violation. He was sent to the wrong courtroom and the hearing was delayed.

Atwater's co-defendant in Carson's slaying, 17-year-old Laurence Lovette, also was on probation at the time of her death.

Both were formally indicted Monday by an Orange County grand jury in her death.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)