11:36 PM EST on Thursday, March 10, 2005

By 6NEWS Staff

6NEWS

Rae Carruth walks along a third floor walkway to the Criminal Courts building Thursday morning.

Rae Carruth walked into a Charlotte courtroom Thursday morning looking much like he did when he was playing football for the Carolina Panthers. He was clean cut and looked very fit.

Carruth’s attorneys have filed a motion to reduce his jail time. He was sentenced in 2000 for conspiring to murder his pregnant girlfriend Cherica Adams and received 18 years and 11 months in prison.

Before Thursday’s hearing Carruth’s attorney was overheard telling Carruth’s mother not to get her hopes up, that this is the start of a very long process.

The hearing is expected to last one to two days.

The defense is calling into question a 911 call played during the original trial. Moments after the shooting Cherica Adams called 911 and basically pointed the finger at Carruth. Defense attorneys presented evidence portraying that 911 call as critical to the jury's decision.

But a 2004 Supreme Court ruling casts the taped call as questionable evidence because she could not be cross examined on the testimony, defense lawyers said.

Adams died, but her baby, Chancellor, survived in emergency delivery. He was born with cerebral palsy as a result of the shooting. Adams’ mother, Chancellor's legal guardian, was in court Thursday.

"Chancellor - he's the center of my attention. He's doing good," she said. "So I stay centered on the love that Cherika had for her child even before he was born and the love that we have for him now."

Carruth's mother also spoke briefly Thursday, saying her son is a fighter and will not give up.

Van Brett Watkins confessed to shooting in Adams in 1999 and is currently spending at least 40 years in prison. Michael Kennedy, who was driving the car from which the bullets were fired, is serving 11 years.

Carruth's attorney says whichever side loses will appeal.