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GREENSBORO — A judge issued a bond Friday afternoon for a man accused in a fatal shooting Thursday after his attorney contested the killing was in self-defense.

Chief District Court Judge Joseph E. Turner set a $200,000 bond for Edward Sherron Carter Jr., 21, who is accused in the death of Markis Corey Bennerman, 26, just after midnight Thursday at 911 Caldwell St.

Carter had been previously held without bond on the first-degree murder charge.

The move came after Carter’s public defender, Wayne Baucino, argued Carter was defending himself from being robbed when Bennerman was killed.

Baucino argued the preliminary facts of the case he has found indicate Bennerman showed up in front of Carter’s home to buy marijuana when he decided to rob him.

Baucino said Bennerman forced Carter inside the home at gunpoint, stole his money and forced Carter back outside to his vehicle.

At some point when the men were outside, a struggle ensued over a handgun and Carter shot Bennerman in self-defense, Baucino argued.

Turner also reduced the bond of Adrienne Devon McMasters, 34, who was accused of accessory after the fact in the case on accusations she provided Carter with gloves to move Bennerman’s body and allowed him to hide the handgun in her home next door.

Her bond was reduced from $200,000 to $100,000.

A state prosecutor argued against both moves, saying police investigators were not present to verify Baucino’s arguments.

Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 18.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com