Prosecutors want to tell murder case jury about other cases

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Prosecutors are asking a judge if they can tell jurors about parts of A suspect’s past including a murder conviction.

James Bradley is charged with the death of Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk.

First, prosecutors brought a detective to the stand to recall Bradley’s former murder conviction for killing his stepdaughter. The defense objected every part of this testimony saying it is irrelevant to Newkirk’s murder.

The prosecution also called a woman to the stand who has encountered Elisha Tucker. Prosecutors also want to tell jurors that Bradley is a suspect in the death of Tucker, whose body was found while authorities looked for Newkirk. Bradley is not charged in that case. The defense also objected to using this testimony in trial.

The defense did not object to testimony from Newkirk’s mother and brother. Her mother says Newkirk worked with James Bradley at a landscaping company around the time she went missing.

Newkirk’s mother Roberta Lewis said they have not stopped looking for Newkirk. She said her son has made it a full time job. Lewis told prosecutors she does not believe her daughter is still alive.

Prosecutors expect this pre-trial hearing to last all week.