Co-Defendant in Carruth Trial Expresses Innocence

A co-defendant in Rae Carruth’s murder trial said Monday he rejected plea agreements twice because he was innocent in the killing of the former pro football player’s pregnant girlfriend.

Michael Eugene Kennedy, one of three co-defendants, said he thought Carruth and the confessed triggerman, Van Brett Watkins, should be held accountable in the killing last year of Cherica Adams. Kennedy testified for prosecutors and was due back on the stand at Charlotte, N.C., today.

“I have no motive and neither does Stanley,” Kennedy said, referring to another co-defendant, Stanley Drew Abraham.

Kennedy has testified he was driving a car carrying Abraham and Watkins, who shot Adams as she sat in her own car.

Kennedy said he felt Carruth had threatened his life. After the slaying, he said, Carruth told him not to talk to police.

Adams was eight months pregnant with Carruth’s child when she was shot Nov. 16, 1999, in what prosecutors said was a trap laid by Carruth to avoid having to pay child support.

Carruth, at the time a member of the Carolina Panthers, has denied involvement in the shooting.

“I have four children,” Kennedy said. “Unlike Rae, I would never kill them or pay somebody to kill them.” Kennedy said Carruth paid Watkins to shoot Adams. He also said Carruth gave him $100 to buy a gun.

The 26-year-old Carruth could be executed if convicted of arranging Adams’ shooting. Adams, 24, gave birth to a son, then died a month later. The boy is in the custody of Adams’ mother.

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Colorado pitcher Bobby Chouinard, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for abusing his wife, will serve a year in jail under an agreement approved by a Phoenix judge.

Chouinard will serve his time in Colorado during baseball’s off-season--in four three-month increments spread out over four years--according to Bill FitzGerald, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.

As part of a plea agreement, Chouinard also must make 10 public service announcements denouncing domestic violence, pay $25,000 to a domestic violence charity, attend long-term treatment for abusers and surrender a gun he used to terrorize his wife.

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A hearing on a request for a summary judgment in former welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya’s lawsuit against promoter Bob Arum has been delayed until Wednesday.

The hearing, in the federal district courtroom of Judge Matt Byrne in downtown Los Angeles, had been scheduled for Monday, but was changed at the judge’s request.

De La Hoya is suing to end his legal ties to Arum, his promoter for the last eight years.

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Boxing promoter Cedric Kushner was fined $175,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission for admitting he paid bribes to the International Boxing Federation.

Baseball

One of baseball’s biggest free-agent prizes, Alex Rodriguez is getting the red-carpet treatment from the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras were expected to meet Monday with Ranger owner Tom Hicks. He was expected to be joined by General Manager Doug Melvin, Manager Johnny Oates and several players.

The team’s bid for Rodriguez hasn’t been slowed by the expected demand of at least a 10-year contract, in the range of $20 million a year, loaded with fringe benefits.

Scout Hugh Alexander, who worked in the major leagues for 61 years, has died. He was 83. . . . The Dodgers hired John Olguin to be the director of public relations. . . . Outfielder Lyle Mouton was released by the Milwaukee Brewers. . . . Infielder Amaury Garcia was traded from the Florida Marlins to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named.

Miscellany

Olympic figure skating champion Tara Lipinski is back performing two months after undergoing surgery to repair a hip injury.

Lipinski skated a scaled down version of her routines in the Stars on Ice tour opener in Lake Placid, N.Y. She is expected to defend her world professional title Dec. 8 in Washington, D.C.

Spanish officials will investigate accusations that athletes without disabilities competed in the recent Paralympics.

Carlos Ribagorda, a member of the country’s gold medal-winning basketball team in Sydney, said last week he and up to 14 other medal winners were not mentally disabled.

The Los Angeles Stars open practice today at Loyola Marymount University to prepare for their inaugural season in the American Basketball Assn. Because the ABA has merged with the International Basketball League, the ABA season will open two weeks earlier. The Stars will play their first game in Las Vegas on Dec. 14. Los Angeles’ home opener will still be Dec. 26.