Witness testimony begins in Derek Ward murder trial

CHARLOTTE, NC – A jury heard testimony Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of raping and killing his cousin Brittini Ward in 2010.

Derek Ward was charged with the murder of his cousin in 2010. The trial had been delayed for years because Derek Ward was deemed unfit to stand trial. After 14 years, a judge allowed the trial to begin on Monday, with Wark representing himself.

Opening arguments began shortly after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The state laid out the tragic details of the case, saying Derek Ward convinced Brittini's family that she was “possessed.”

Derek Ward defended himself by saying that the DNA found on Brittini was not his and that the injuries she sustained were not caused by rape. The state called several witnesses to the stand, including Brittini's brother Blake, who testified that Brittini Ward was unresponsive when he arrived at the house.

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He testified that Derek Ward said she would “fight that demon.”

Carli Ward, Brittini's sister, was also called as a witness. In a tearful statement, she said she remembered Derek Ward choking her sister three times before she was found dead in the apartment she shared with her mother, Dawn Ward, and cousin, Derek Ward.

“He put his hands around her neck and started squeezing, three times,” she recalled. “And as he was choking her, he said he wanted the demons to leave his cousin.”

Since Ward is representing himself, there were dozens of objections from the state. The judge cautioned Ward to stay on topic and only speak about evidence in this case.

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Contact Austin Walker at [email protected] and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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