Charlotte shootings: Kurtis Primm murder trial starts Monday

The trial for Kurtis Primm, who is charged in the 2016 Charlotte shootings, is scheduled to begin Monday.

The case was originally delayed from August to Oct. 8 due to a witness being located in August just before the trial was to begin. State prosecutors said the witness was difficult to locate, and added that defense attorney Eric Yow was aware of the witness. However, Yow said “the state served the subpoena to “a witness we understood would not be appearing at trial.”

Yow said the trial was delayed one more week, now starting Monday, to “accommodate one of their witnesses.”

The murder trial for Primm is expected to last all next week. Primm is one of three men charged in the shooting deaths of Quintin Tidwell, 29, and Marcedez Teroy Bell, 23.

Others charged

Kurtis Primm, Isiah Primm and Jonathan Hughes Jr. were each charged with two first degree murder charges and an attempted murder charge in the April 2016 shooting.

Kurtis Primm is being tried separately after Yow filed a motion to do do.

"I did not want the prospective guilt of another party rubbing off on my client," Yow said. 

Montae Springer, of Dickson, was also at the Charlotte picnic area during the altercation and was shot nine times, according to TBI Special Agent Shawn Adkins. Springer survived to testify that Isiah Primm shot Tidwell, according to court records. Springer said he was shot by Kurtis Primm.

A witness, Kenny Flanagan, who officials said was also at the shooting scene, testified that the shootings might have occurred over a $200 drug debt. Flanagan said he drove Isiah, Kurtis and Hughes to the park that day.

On Monday, a new trial date will be set for Isiah Primm and Hughes.