Duplin murder victim’s family member confronts suspect in court

DUPLIN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — At a first court appearance for an accused murderer, a member of the victim’s family confronted the suspect.

Deputies say Nashid Porter killed Obediah Hester, 27, about a week ago in the 1000 block of Wards Road near Wallace. Sheriff Blake Wallace said Porter was captured at an abandoned residence off of Highway 41 at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

At Thursday’s court appearance, Sheriff Wallace said as Porter was leaving the courtroom, a male family member of Hester lunged at the suspect, forcing deputies to subdue him and put him back in the pew.

Porter is being held under no bond. Wallace says the sheriff’s office was assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

In September 2012, Porter was charged in the murder of Brian Theodus Grant in the Creekwood community in July. In February 2014, Judge W. Allen Cobb Jr. signed off on a pre-trial release for Porter, which included a $10,000 unsecured bond and electronic monitoring. Porter was also ordered to have no contact with witnesses. According to court records, Hester was named as a key witness in Porter’s murder trial.

Porter will remain in the Duplin County jail until he is ordered to come back to New Hanover for that murder trial, Wallace said.