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Updated 08/30/2010 05:18 PM

Detective's notes still in question as murder trial resumes

By: Kate Gaier

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CHARLOTTE -- The Demetrius Montgomery murder trial resumed Monday morning and some light was shed on the reason it was postponed Friday.

Montgomery is charged with killing Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton.

Court recessed early Friday morning so attorneys could investigate additional information discovered the same morning. News 14 Carolina learned that new information is tied to former detective Arvin Fant.

The judge was vague about what was in those documents discovered but the defense says they showed the former homicide detective's transcripts, documents and testimony on the case aren't consistent.

The prosecution says the material isn't new, but it's coming from a new source.

Fant has not been seen in court since early last week when he admitted on the stand to destroying original case notes, after he said he recopied them. The defense argued that he lied when he said he recopied them verbatim and the documents uncovered Friday morning prove so.

The Defense says it is concerned with the entire Fant issue and when it will be addressed during the trial. Right now, jurors have no information about Fant and the judge would like to keep it that way until the time is right during the trial.

CMPD said Monday there will be an independent review of all cases involving Fant. The review panel, led by retired Mecklenburg County Superior Court Judge Shirley Fulton, will try to determine whether there were any discrepancies in his other cases.

Their work will be monitored by the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office.

Jury selection began Wednesday and it could take this entire week.