Defense rests in I-540 murder trial - The defense rested Tuesday in the trial of the minister accused of killing a NCCU student and leaving her body along I-540.

October 6, 2009 1:58:39 PM PDT

RALEIGH --

The defense rested Tuesday in the trial of the minister accused of killing a NCCU student and leaving her body along I-540.Prosecutors say Bishop Robert Reaves was jealous of the affair that his roommate was having with the victim - Latrese Curtis - and saw her as an obstacle to him having a homosexual relationship with the man.

Prosecutors say Reaves followed Curtis from NCCU in Durham to Raleigh, forcing her to pull over along I-540 and then repeatedly slashed and stabbed her with a knife. Her body was discovered by drivers passing on the highway January 30, 2008.

Reaves, who was a minister at Cedar International Fellowship in Durham, is charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning.