The trial for the men accused of the murder of Scott Brooks, co-owner of Brooks’ Sandwich House in NoDa, began with preliminary motions yesterday. Brooks was shot during an apparent robbery attempt in December 2019. Nearly six years after the incident, Steven Staples and Terry Connor Jr. face charges, including first-degree murder. Outside the courthouse, David Brooks spoke about the impact of his brother’s death, saying, “When I open my Bible, I see my brother. When I say my prayers, I see my brother. When I open my business, I see my brother,” according to QC News.
As the trial began, the judge quickly denied the defense’s request for a continuance. The defense had requested more time to review a large number of jail phone calls—nearly 50,000—that the prosecution had recently submitted. David Brooks is scheduled to testify early in the proceedings.
Jury selection for the trial was scheduled to begin today, with the process expected to take three to five weeks. Both defendants, Staples and Connor, have pleaded not guilty and will be tried together, a decision based on the similarity of the charges and evidence, as per WCNC. The court has implemented additional security measures, including extra bailiffs and metal detectors, due to the trial’s high-profile nature.
