Trial begins for 2 men accused of Mary Collins murder in NoDa

Mary Collins Thursday marked four years since Collins’ grandmother last saw her at her home -- on March 28, 2020. Mary’s body wasn’t found until April 4 -- eight days later. Detectives said the 20-year-old was stabbed more than 130 times, wrapped in plastic, and stuffed into a mattress in an apartment at The Yards at NoDa.

By Hunter Sáenz

CHARLOTTE — Jury selection will begin on Tuesday in the homicide trial surrounding Mary Collins.

[ READ MORE: Judge removes ankle-monitoring requirement and denies bond revocation of Mary Collins suspect ]

She was the young woman who Charlotte-Mecklenburg police says was stabbed more than 100 times, wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a mattress at a NoDa apartment. It happened six years ago.

James Salerno and Lavi Pham were each charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, among other charges.

On Monday, a judge ruled on multiple pretrial motions. The trial is expected to take about six weeks.

Pham’s defense team plans to argue he was voluntarily intoxicated at the time.

Channel 9 will be there for the trial and bring you updates.