The prosecution has rested its case against Keith Antoine Carter, on trial for the murder of Winston-Salem police officer Howard Plouff, who was shot while helping break up a fight at the Red Rooster night club in Feb. ’07.
Note that Carter’s attorney made a motion to dismiss the case, saying Carter should not be the only person on trial for first-degree murder while committing a felony, in this case engaging in a riot.
Carter’s attorney that the riot charge is too broad and that several people could be charged with first-degree murder in this case, including the the Red Rooster bouncer who fired his gun into the air.
Carter admitted to police that he also fired his gun into the air and didn’t mean to hurt anyone. That’s doesn’t help Sgt. Plouff now. Still, based on what I’ve read, I don’t see where Carter intentionally tried to harm Plouff, which is why I think it’s going to be hard for the jury to find him guilty of first-degree murder.
Just for the record —–the Winston-Salem Journal made sure to mention this— Carter is black and the jury is all-white. A conviction will certainly prompt charges of racism.
