A man charged with shooting to death a Lawrence rap musician traveled by car and bus to Mississippi following the murder, according to a woman who went with him.

Wendy Searce testified in Douglas County District Court this morning that she left a party in Lawrence with Major C. Edwards on the night of Oct. 14, 2006. She and Edwards were longtime friends, she said.

Searce took the witness stand as the preliminary hearing for Edwards and co-defendant Durell Jones entered its second day. Edwards and Jones are charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Anthony “Clacc” Vital, whose body was found along a private drive west of Lawrence on Oct. 15, 2006.

Testimony, which began Thursday, continues this afternoon. On Thursday, testimony centered on DNA found near Vital’s body that was linked to the co-defendants.

After testimony concludes, Judge Robert Fairchild must decide if there is enough evidence for Edwards and Jones to stand trial.