Judge denies motion for new trial in quadruple homicide case

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - A judge has denied a new trial for a northern Illinois man convicted of first-degree murder and home invasion in the 2014 shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend, her two sons and her boyfriend.

A defense attorney for Calvin L. Carter III, 24, requested a new trial Wednesday, citing an array of errors committed by two judges, the Rockford Register Star reported .

First Deputy Public Defender Nick Zimmerman said that among those errors was a failure to declare a mistrial when two of the victims' relatives stood up and yelled or spoke to Carter during the trial. He said the outbursts influenced the jury.

Marilyn Hite Ross, chief of the criminal bureau for the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office, said there's a lack of evidence to show jurors knew relatives made the outbursts.

"This was a long trial," Hite Ross said. "Obviously emotions ran high."

She said Carter "did receive a fair trial."

Associate Judge Fernando Engelsma agreed with the prosecution and denied the motion.

Investigators said Carter fatally shot Martia Flint, 24, along with her sons - Tyrone Smith III, 6, and Tobias K. Smith, 4 - in a Rockford apartment. Demontae Rhodes, 24, was also killed.

Prosecutors said text messages Flint sent to Carter showed that Carter was an abusive boyfriend who was enraged when Flint ended their relationship.

Investigators said Flint and Rhodes had rekindled their relationship after a breakup, during which Flint had dated Carter. Prosecutors said Carter killed Flint over "rejection, jealousy and finality" of their relationship ending, and that Carter killed the children and Rhodes to eliminate any witnesses.

Carter is expected to be sentenced Aug. 31.

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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com