Final Pretrial Motion Set Before Faith Hedgepeth Murder Trial Begins in Durham

Key points

• Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old sophomore, was found dead in her Old Chapel Hill Road apartment in September 2012.
• Miguel Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after prosecutors linked him to the crime via DNA evidence.
• Salguero-Olivares has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, rape, and sexual offense.
• The trial is scheduled to start on September 28 in Durham County and is expected to last several weeks.
• A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for Monday to address a state motion regarding evidence and arguments.

Background

This case involves a long-delayed trial for a 2012 homicide at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The defendant was not arrested until 2021, nearly nine years after the victim's death, following the identification of DNA evidence. Recent pretrial rulings in August addressed procedural matters, including camera usage during testimony from the victim's roommate. The current legal proceedings focus on narrowing the scope of evidence and arguments before the jury trial commences.

Why it matters

The trial resolves a nearly 14-year-old unsolved murder case involving a university student. The pretrial motions highlight significant legal disputes over the admissibility of evidence and the defense's ability to suggest alternative suspects, which could influence the outcome of the trial. The case also underscores the impact of DNA evidence in solving cold cases and the procedural complexities involved in high-profile murder trials.

What to watch

The trial is expected to begin on September 28 and last several weeks. Prosecutors have recently filed motions detailing expert witnesses they intend to call. The outcome of the Monday pretrial hearing regarding the state's motion to block certain defense arguments will be a key factor in the trial's proceedings.