GUILTY NC - William “Andy” Banks, 39, Raleigh, met someone about selling his car, 12 Sept 2020 *ARREST*

Is anyone talking online about the trial? Cannot find any comments. Where to find?

The only place I can find anything about this trial is searching for it on google.

Just found one for yesterday's.


Dec. 1, 2022

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Justin Merritt declined to testify in his own defense Thursday in the Andy Banks murder trial. Closing arguments are set to begin Friday.
Thursday was the third day of testimony in the case. It included prosecutors introducing a series of text messages between Andy Banks and Justin Merritt, as they worked to establish a timeline in their case.
[.....]

Investigators believe Merritt had already shot Banks at this time, and the text was sent as an attempt at a cover-up.

Raleigh Police Homicide Detective Terry Jackson analyzed a series of photographs of Banks' body and the location it was found in.
[.....]
During its opening statement Tuesday, Merritt's defense acknowledged evidence will show that Merritt shot Banks, but said the state needed to meet its burden of proof for the entirety of their charges, including evidence of premeditation and deliberation.


and another article -


Dec. 1, 2022

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Both sides have rested in the trial of Justin Merritt — the man charged in the shooting death of Andy Banks.


Over the course of three days, prosecutors argued Banks was scheduled to meet with Merritt, who he’d connected with on Craigslist, to sell Merritt his 2011 Range Rover. At some point during a test drive of the vehicle on Sept. 12, 2020, prosecutors said Merritt shot Banks before taking the vehicle and Banks’ body to his home state of Virginia.
[.....]
Western Virginia assistant chief medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp examined Banks remains. While police believed the murder likely happened in North Carolina, the remains were found in Virginia which was Tharp’s jurisdiction.


Tharp said Banks was shot a minimum of five times but could have been shot up to nine times. Tharp explained Banks body was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
[.....]
Before both sides rested, Merritt was given the option to testify in his own trial. He opted not to and his attorney did not bring forward any of their own witnesses either.

Merritt’s attorney did ask the judge to dismiss the case saying no one in the courtroom identified her client as Merritt. The judge ruled against the request stating he was identified in police interview video shown during the trial.
 
Friday, December 2nd:
*Trial continues (Day 4)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am ET) – NC – William Anderson “Andy” Banks, Jr. (39) (missing Sept. 12, 2020, found Sept. 18, 2020 near 3800 Irish Rd. in Chatham, VA. & SUV found in Danville, VA.) - *Justin Fernando Merritt (34/now 36) arrested & charged (9/18/20) & arraigned (9/18/20) with 1st degree felony murder, possession of a stolen vehicle, additional charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, armed robbery & possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. $2M bond, but Judge changed (9/18/20) it to no bond.
Trial began on 11/29/22. State & defense rested their case on 12/2/22.
Case & court info from 9/12/20 thru 11/29/22 & Trial Day 1-2 (11/29 to 11/30) reference post #739 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ng-his-car-12-sept-2020-arrest.542205/page-37

12/1/22 Thursday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: Prosecutors introducing a series of text messages between Banks & Merritt, as they worked to establish a timeline in their case. Raleigh Police Homicide Detective Terry Jackson. Western Virginia assistant chief medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp. State rested their case.
Merritt declined to testify. Defense rested their case. Merritt’s attorney did ask the judge to dismiss the case saying no one in the courtroom identified her client as Merritt. The judge ruled against the request stating he was identified in police interview video shown during the trial.
For more info see post #741 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ng-his-car-12-sept-2020-arrest.542205/page-38
Closing arguments on Friday, 12/2/22.
 

Dec. 2, 2022
....
Wake County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Latour gave closing arguments. Merritt’s attorney, Alexis Strombotne, used her 10-minute closing argument to try to convince the jury that Merritt should be found guilty of second-degree murder.

A jury finding Merritt guilty of first-degree murder for killing William “Andy” Banks. The jury also found Merritt, 36, guilty of robbery, larceny and possession of a firearm by a felon. After the verdict, Merritt stood and spoke for the first time. He apologized to Banks’ friends and family, as well as his own. “Please hear me when I say, this was never my intention,” said Merritt, a father of three. “I am so sorry.” Merritt’s attorney gave notice of an appeal.

After a jury found Justin Merritt guilty of murdering Andy Banks and robbing him of a Range Rover he was selling, Judge Graham Shirley asked Merritt to stand in silence for one minute. After the minute, Shirley sentenced Merritt to life in prison, which is the automatic sentence for a first-degree murder conviction.
 

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