GASTONIA, N.C. — Several family and friends testified during the second day of an evidentiary hearing that could result in a new trial for a Gaston County man convicted of murdering a UNC Charlotte student.
Mark Carver is serving a life sentence after being convicted of strangling to death Ira Yarmolenko, 20, in a highly publicized trial. Carver's long maintained his innocence.
During Wednesday's hearing, the defense called several of Mark Carver's family and friends to the stand.
Carver's defense attorneys, Chris Mumma and Cheryl Sullivan, repeatedly focused their questions on Carver's physical and mental weaknesses.
Family members testified Carver struggled to tie his shoelaces, and he couldn't carry heavy objects.
They also said Carver's original attorneys did not reach out to them to testify to Carver's physical and mental issues.
District Attorney Locke Bell and prosecutor Stephanie Hamlin worked to chip away at those arguments.
Those family and friends testified during cross-examination that Carver liked to fish and hunt.
Prosecutors even introduced photos posted on the website, FreeMarkCarver.com, which showed Carver as he cast a fishing pole and held a 25-pound fish.
Towards the end of Wednesday's hearing, Carver's attorneys began playing his police interrogation video.
His attorneys already hinted in opening statements that they'll be questioning the quality of the interrogation, including if police asked leading questions.
Court will resume Thursday at 10 a.m.