Holding cell fight shown to jury during murder trial

Video of a fight that broke out in a holding cell at the Allen County Justice Center between a murder suspect and a witness in the case is shown during the trial of Markelus Carter.  

Carter is on trial for the 2009 murder of Kenneth Warrington.  

During the afternoon break on Wednesday, Carter was mistakenly placed in a holding cell with Steven Upham.  The video shows Carter landing the first punch with Upham later putting Carter in a headlock and throwing a few punches followed by Carter biting Upham on the arm.  Corrections officers break the fight up after about two minutes.  

Thursday morning Carter's lawyer Jon Paul Rion asked for a mistrial based on the fight.  However, Judge Jeffrey Reed said the case would move forward and allowed the video to be shown to the jury. 

Upham was a block mate of Carter's at Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution.  Upham testified that Carter told him details of the murder.    

On cross examination the defense pressed Upham on other ways he could have obtained information on the murder besides a direct conversation with Carter.

Upham then admitted he spent a great deal of time in prison trying to find ways to get released early.  However, he denied being promised any reduction in exchange for testimony in this case.    

Three guards were placed in the courtroom during Upham's testimony.  The defense is expected to call other inmates to the stand to refute today's statements.  

Later in the day, the state continued building its case by calling lead detective Tim Clark to the stand.  Clark's testimony will continue Friday morning.