Thursday was Day 2 in the Nikki McPhatter murder trial.

Jurors listened to a taped interview with the accused killer – 30-year-old Theodore Manning – that was recorded shortly after McPhatter's body was found in her burned-out car in May 2009.

Jurors also heard taped testimony from Kendra Goodman, the woman accused of helping Manning dispose of McPhatter’s body. In testimony Thursday, Manning played down her involvement in the case, saying she never saw McPhatter’s body and was unaware of what had happened.

Her testimony contradicted earlier statements she gave to police in which she said she saw the body and blood in the house.

In Manning’s taped interview, he didn't deny shooting McPhatter, whom he met on an Internet dating site, but claimed it was self-defense.

Prosecutors also showed surveillance video from a Columbia ATM. Police said the tape showed Manning using McPhatter's bankcard the day after she disappeared. Police said he withdrew hundreds of dollars, cleaning out her bank accounts.

McPhatter, a 30-year-old Charlotte woman, was reported missing May 11, 2009 when she didn’t show up for work at US Airways. Police later learned that she had driven to Columbia to see Manning. Investigators believe she had gone there to end their relationship.

Her body was found days later in a wooded area in Fairfield County.

Defense lawyers have said that Manning will testify in his own defense. If convicted, he faces 30 years to life.
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Editor’s note: This report was compiled from various news sources covering the trial, including, WCNC.com and WSOVTV.com.

Read what happened on Day 1.

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