The trial of Issiah Mekki Ross, a 21-year-old black male formerly of Mebane who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of two teens in Mebane in September 2022, got off to an emotional start Wednesday morning in Orange County superior court in Hillsborough.
An apparent family member of one of the victims who was seated in the courtroom gallery as the trial got underway began sobbing uncontrollably when Orange County assistant district attorney Anna Orr recounted how Lyric Woods, 14, white, female, of Efland, had been shot in the neck twice at close range during the early morning of Saturday, September 17, 2022, after sneaking out of the house late that preceding Friday night. Her friend, Devin Clark, 18, black, male of Mebane, was a little older, so it wasn’t unusual for him to spend weekends with his friends, Orr outlined during her opening statement Wednesday morning.
During a hearing prior to jury selection on Monday, visiting superior court judge Stephanie Reese of Guilford County granted three motions: a motion to join the charges into one trial; a motion to sequester some of the witnesses; and Ross’ motion to argue self-defense.
Also on Monday, Ross rejected a plea deal that would’ve reduced the charges from two counts of first-degree murder to two counts of second-degree murder, potentially lowering the maximum sentence to between 40 and 50 years in prison. Ross, who was 17 when he allegedly murdered Clark and Woods in 2022, faces two sentences of life in prison if convicted…