Hearing Held on Rae Carruth’s Civil Trial in Unborn Victims Suit
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 14, 2003
Charlotte, NC (LifeNews.com) — On Monday, a hearing was held in the civil trial of Rae Carruth, the former NFL player who arranged to have his pregnant girlfriend killed because she refused to have an abortion and he didn’t want to make child support payments.
Billie Ellerbe, attorney for Cherica Adams’ family said the four men convicted of conspiring to kill her should pay the Adams’ estate $5.8 million in damages.
All four men were found guilty in the November 1999 shooting that left Cherica dead. Her son was born following the shooting, though he will suffer from cerebral palsy the rest of his life. The damages awarded in the civil suit will assist in paying for medical bills and treatment for her son.
None of the defendants contested the lawsuit and Judge Yvonne Evans will make a ruling on the request for damages.
Unfortunately, three of the four men are in prison and one is unemployed — making it unlikely that much, if any, of the damages sought will be obtained. Yet, Saundra Adams, Cherica’s mother, said she pushed forward with her lawsuit for "justice and closure," according to the Associated Press.
Ellerbe said one of the men should be able to find work and the others will be able to once they are released from prison. Their wages should help Cherica’s son Chance, he said.
Carruth’s criminal conviction remains under appeal, though it has been unsuccessful thus far. The North Carolina Court of Appeals refused to overturn it and the state Supreme Court recently declined to review the appeals court decision.
"Ironically, the person who was closest to my daughter and who planned this has not indicated a bit of remorse," Saundra Adams told the AP. "I cannot understand how someone could be so cold and callous and uncaring toward one of his own flesh and blood. Chancellor is his son."
Carruth is currently serving a 19-year sentence at the Nash Correctional Institution.
Van Brett Watkins, who fired the gun that killed Cherica, said he will provide the family with any money possible and will turn down any book deals that would bring him a profit from the case.
Saundra Adams said she has received checks from Watkins and believes he is genuinely remorseful.
