CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The second day of the Brooks’ Sandwich House murder trial focused on one of the final pre-trial motions before jury selection got underway.

Scott Brooks, co-owner of the beloved NoDa restaurant, was shot and killed in December 2019 while opening the family business early one morning. Nearly six years later, the two men accused of his death - Steven Staples and Terry Conner - are finally standing trial in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Before jury selection began, the judge made a key ruling on what evidence jurors would be allowed to hear.

Defense attorneys asked the court to exclude evidence that links the defendants to other alleged crimes, including a deadly robbery, arguing that it could unfairly influence jurors.

Prosecutors push

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