Defense attorneys in the federal trial against one of the two men charged with killing former Student Body President Eve Carson claim he was abused by police and have asked for videos taken during his arrest and during the interrogation of a key witness.
The defense filed the motion Monday to see whether Demario James Atwater, 23, was subjected to the physical and mental threats and abuse he claims occurred during his arrest.
The defense also thinks video of the treatment of a key witness, Shanita Love, could be critical in an evaluation of her testimony at trial.
Several motions to gather evidence that could be beneficial to Atwater's case also were filed Monday and Sunday.
Authorities say Atwater and Lawrence Alvin Lovette, 19, kidnapped Carson from her home on March 5, 2008, took her to an ATM to withdraw $1,400 and then shot her in a neighborhood off East Franklin Street.
Atwater is eligible to receive the death penalty in both the federal trial and state trial against him.
Lovette, Atwater’s co-defendant in the state trial, has not been indicted by federal prosecutors. He is not eligible for the death penalty because he was younger than 18 when Carson was killed.
