Wife Still Jailed in NFL Player's Slaying
C H A R L O T T E, N.C., Aug. 24, 2000 -- A judge rejected the latest attempt bythe widow and accused killer of NFL running back Fred Lane to bereleased from jail so she could care for her two young children butagreed to hold a bond hearing Friday.
Mecklenburg County Superior Court Judge Richard Boner turneddown the bid today by Deidra Lane’s attorney for a second bondhearing in two days. The hearing was opposed by prosecutors. But Boner said he would hold a hearing Friday.
“I’m not saying I’m going to grant bond,” Boner told lawyers. “What I am going to do is let both sides have their say.”
With Deidra Lane sobbing audibly at the defense table, defenseHenderson Hill tried to persuade Boner to hold the hearing thismorning.
“She is the sole provider for two very young children,” Hillsaid, adding that she posed no danger to others or flight risk.“Her 4-year-old son has gone through a traumatic loss.”
Prosecutors argued against holding the hearing today, sayingthe family of Fred Lane had not been notified.
“I’m confident they would very much want to be here,” saidAssistant District Attorney Gentry Caudle.
Deidra Lane, 25, is charged with murder in the shooting death ofher husband. Prosecutors told another judge on Wednesday that shecould face first-degree murder in the case.
Faces Murder Charge
On Wednesday, Deidra Lane appeared close to tears as she appeared beforeMecklenburg County District Court Judge Philip Howerton, wearing anorange jail jumpsuit and shackles on her legs. She had turned herself in to authorities in the company of her attorney just before 7:30 a.m. that day.
She responded “Yes” when Howerton asked her if she knew shehad been charged with murder.
Under North Carolina law, she was charged with one count thatcovers both first- and second-degree murder. Contrary to what had been previously reported, prosecutors did not indicate which level they would pursue.
First-degree murder is punishable by execution, whilesecond-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Teammates Respond
Fred Lane, the former Carolina Panthers running back who wastraded to Indianapolis during the off-season, was shot in the chest and head at close range as he walked in the front door of the couple’s suburban Charlotte home on July 6. Police have said Deidra Lane shot him during a dispute.
The charges came nearly seven weeks after Fred Lane’s death.
“It’s about time,” said Carolina Panthers running backTshimanga Biakabutuka, as the team prepared for this week’s finalNFL preseason game. “I just wonder what took so long for them topress the charges.”
Many of Lane’s former Panthers teammates said they had hopedDeidra Lane would eventually be charged, though the actual eventprovided little comfort.
“This is probably a sad day because of remembering Fred andremembering the memories and stuff,” receiver Muhsin Muhammadsaid.
Troubled Marriage
Fred and Deidra Lane were married in 1998. She had filed a complaint against her husband in March, saying he snatched a necklace from around her neck during anargument, causing her to fall. She did not press charges and latersaid she only called police because she was locked out of thehouse.
A grand jury in Jackson, Tenn., indicted Fred Lane on three days before his death onmisdemeanor drug charges stemming from a Feb. 3 arrest. Prosecutorsdropped weapons charges, citing a lack of evidence.
Deidra Lane also has had run-ins with police. In 1995, she wascharged with attempted robbery of a South Carolina credit union.She completed a diversion program and was not convicted.
Just last week, warrants were issued charging her with writingtwo worthless checks, one on May 30 for $150, the other on June 1for $300, according to the Mecklenburg County sheriff’s office.
Carolina’s Leading Rusher
Lane, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back, played for threeseasons with Carolina and became the Panthers’ leading careerrusher in November.
The Panthers re-signed Lane before the 1999 season to atwo-year, $1.276 million contract with a $300,000 signing bonus.Lane shared rushing duties with Biakabutuka but playedlargely as a backup late in the season.
Lane is one of two former Panthers to face legal troubles inrecent months.
Rae Carruth, the Panthers’ top 1997 draft pick, was charged lastfall with fatally shooting his pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams.Carruth is being held without bond in Charlotte while he awaitstrial.