Day three of the murder trial - UPDATED 12:48 PM

Outside of the jury, day three began with a hearing to determine whether the prosecution would be able to use autopsy photos. The judge allowed them in.

The judge has indicated that court should end today around lunch time.

On a side note, I haven't yet told you the breakdown of the jury. The jury of 12 is made of eight women and four men. All twelve are white. There are two alternate jurors. Both are women. One is white and one his black. After the trial began, the black alternate juror informed the judge that she realized she knew some of the defendant's family. She said she could be a fair juror and the judge allowed her to continue as a juror.

The prosecution began calling witnesses.

A medical examiner, Dr. Christpher Gulledge, from the Medical Examiners Office in Charlotte took the stand at 9:48 a.m. He is currently going over his education and experience.

"We found three gun shot wounds to Mr. Samuel," he said. "All of them had entrance and exit wounds. All of them were at an undeterminate distance."

He said anything beyond two feet away he couldn't determine.

He said the shots were to the chest, abdomen and leg. He said the bullet to the chest went through the heart. He said it was a fatal shot. He said the other two shots probably wouldn't have been lethal.

He said Samuel had a blood alcohol level of .07.

Autopsy photos are being show to the jury on a courtroom monitor.

The defense has started it's cross-examination of the doctor. The doctor has left the stand.

Jared Smith, 18, who knew both Early and Samuel, took the stand at 11:30 a.m.

His relationship to Samuel: "He was like my brother."

He testified Samuel and and a few friends were at his house playing spades and drinking beer before the shooting. He said they then left his house with Samuel driving. He said they went to the Piedmont Avenue area. He said he went into Ms. Thompson's house and heard an argument outside.

"I hard bickering going on outside," said Smith, who then went outside. "I told them to chill out."
He said Paras pulled out a gun and pointed it towards Early, then he put the gun in his pocket. He said Early then put the gun to Samuel's head. He said Early fired first. He said he heard five or six shots.

I heard the first shot, I hit the ground and heard continuous shots. Paras was staggering to standing up."

Young questioned Smith about his comments to investigators the night of incident.

"To tell you the truth I was going to lie for him," said Smith.

Wray started cross-examination.

Wray questioned whether he lied today. "Everything I said today is the truth," said Smith.

Smith said he previously pleaded guilty to or was convicted of communicating threats and gun possession.

Smith left the stand at 12:46 p.m. The court is in recess for the weekend and should resume Monday at 10 a.m.