HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The murder trial of Issiah Ross is back in session on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The trial started on Wednesday, Jan. 14 and has moved rapidly.
Ross is charged in the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark in Orange County. He is accused of murdering the two teens in September 2022. He was 17 when he allegedly committed the crime; however, he is being tried as an adult.
He has pleaded not guilty. Ross rejected a plea bargain offer on Monday, Jan. 12.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Ross took the stand and testified in his own defense.
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Just started watching, here's week 1 blog to catch you up.
Judge Stephanie Reese discussed a trial strategy with Issiah Ross, in which he agreed to admit certain elements of the crime.
This means the prosecution will no longer have to prove these elements.
The trial of Issiah Ross is in recess until next week, because of a family emergency, but Judge Stephanie Reese said on Friday the trial is "in great shape."
"This is not unexpected," Reese said. "We were planning on having to go into next week, no matter what. This is me just going to push it off one more day. Evidence is coming in very well and timely. I don't anticipate right now that this is going to cause any undue delay in the proceedings."
Nearly four years later, the details of the shooting deaths of Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, are coming to light as the trial began with an emotional start from the teens' parents.
ALSO SEE | Key developments in the trial live blog
"She came behind us, gave us both a hug, and told us she loved us and she was going to take a shower," Elizabeth Cannada said of Lyric. "And I told her, don't take an hour and a half, because she always took really long showers. And that was the last time I saw her."
Lyric and Devin had plans to meet up Friday night on Sept. 16, 2022. Their bodies were found in a wooded area within a day after they were reported missing by their families.
"I collapsed and probably screamed a scream I never want to hear again," Cannada said tearfully at the stand.
Ross was 17 years old at the time, but is being tried as an adult. He has pleaded not guilty and has rejected the state's plea deal and declined to make a counteroffer.
His attorney says Ross acted in self-defense. It is now up to 12 jurors to ultimately decide a verdict.
Both attorneys say a 9mm owned by Devin's father, Dexter Clark, was used in the killings.
Dexter Clark testified on Wednesday about how he reported the firearm missing after realizing he hadn't seen the gun in one or two weeks. Orange County investigators also reported "23 rounds were missing."
"I checked, and it wasn't there, so I reported it," Clark said.
"What kind of gun was that?" asked Anna Orr, Orange County Assistant District Attorney.
"A 9mm Canik," Clark said.
Both teens were found with "multiple gunshot wounds," according to the autopsy reports.
"The most serious was the wound which entered her left back and exited from her right abdomen, going through her left lung, her aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart, and her liver," medical examiner Dr. Lauren Scott said.
For Devin, the most serious injuries were to the back and neck.
"Consequences would be bleeding or exsanguination from those two major vessels," Dr. Scott said.
The trial also included witnesses from Ross' mother's ex-boyfriend, Antwan Bryant, who is related to Devin.
Judge Stephanie Reese announced the trial is in recess until Tuesday, because of medical reasons for the defense attorney, Jonathan Trapp.
Trapp's wife is pregnant but is in labor early.
Friday marks the third day of testimonies in the 2022 Orange County double murder trial.
Additional witnesses are expected to testify.
The court session begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be livestreamed on ABC11.com.
