Wade's criminal history

In 1993, Sherwood Wade was convicted of second-degree murder in Cleveland County, according to the N.C. Department of Corrections.

That case was mentioned briefly.

“I reached in my pocket for a knife because I felt threatened he was going to kill me,” said Bess. “I heard he killed that older man with his bare hands.”

Assistant District Attorney Bill Young brought up Bess' multiple convictions of assaulting a female.

He also questioned why Bess gave different stories to police following the incident.