North Carolina rape, murder suspect representing himself in court

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The trial in the case of Derek Ward, the man accused of raping and murdering his cousin, is officially underway.

The death of Brittini Ward occurred in May 2010. Derek Ward has been incarcerated since, with delays due to concerns about his mental fitness.

Prosecutors in the case said they plan to show the events leading up to and after Brittini Ward’s death, while also highlighting her own history with mental health issues, noting a paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis. Prosecutors said they will also reveal that Derek Ward had convinced Brittini’s mother that she was “possessed,” at one point.

Ward, who is representing himself in this case, gave an extensive opening statement that led to objections from prosecutors and reminders from the judge over the case that the defendant “stick to the evidence” in the case against him. His opening statement ranged from a discussion of everything about the existence of “poltergeists” to briefly taking the affectation of someone who is mentally handicapped.

Prosecutors have started presenting their witnesses, which have started with Brittini’s family members.

Wednesday’s witnesses included a sister and the brother of Brittini Ward, who both testified about Derek Ward’s initial presence among the family after reaching out to them on Facebook. The family said he came back a short time later, alone and uninvited.

Brittini’s brother testified to seeing her body in a “comatose state” around the time of her death.

In cross-examination, Derek Ward repeatedly referred to Brittini’s brother as “soft” or “weak” and there were multiple objections and directions from the judge to stick to questions surrounding the case. The brother went on to describe the “threatening” and “aggressive” nature of Ward around the time of Brittini’s death.

The brother asserted that he believed Derek Ward raped and murdered his sister.

Brittini’s sister noted the interactions between Derek Ward and the family and noted an incident shortly before Brittini’s death where Derek Ward reportedly had his hands around his cousin’s throat, saying that he wanted “the demon to leave” Brittini.

Derek Ward had to be reminded more than once by the judge to keep questioning specific to the case at hand during cross-examination of both of Brittini’s siblings.

Dawn Ward, Brittini’s mother, was later charged with murder and incest related to the case but pled guilty to one charge of concealing a death.

Ward said the injuries his cousin had were not from rape, and that she did not die from being strangled, but instead from blood loss, and that someone else was responsible for Brittini Ward’s death.

Testimony continues on Thursday.

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