FAYETTEVILLE, – The defendant in the case of the murder of five-year-old Shaniya Davis overruled his own attorneys in court Tuesday over videotapes of his questioning by detectives.

Mario McNeill’s lawyers had wanted only edited transcripts of the tapes to be presented to jurors but McNeill insisted on having the jury view the entire six-hour tape. The judge asked him specifically whether he wanted to contradict his legal team’s advice and allow the jury to see the entire video and he said yes.

McNeill is charged with the kidnap, rape and murder of Davis in Nov. 2009. He was interviewed three days after the little girl disappeared. During the interview, McNeill allegedly confesses to kidnapping. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors argue that McNeill’s mother gave up Shaniya to settle a drug debt. While she will be tried later, she will not face the death penalty.