Watch Nanny Abduction Murder Trial with Fubo for $0 Today
Nanny Abduction Murder Trial
Cross-examination continued on the Defense's first witness during the penalty phase. James Nelson, Scott's older, brother explained what he went through as child and young teenager. Next, more of the defendant's family members came to his defense. After the long testimony from his older brother the jury listened to Scott's first cousin. The aim was to show how mitigating factors was serious enough for jurors not to send him to death row for killing Jennifer Fulford, an innocent nanny.
S1, EP50 "Case For Life In Prison"
Scott Nelson's defense attorney began closing arguments with the claim, This case does not warrant the death penalty. hat's how Scott Nelson's attorney told jurors during closing arguments. It was important for the Defense to dismiss the idea that he planned Jennifer Fulford's murder. By going in this direction, his lawyer highlighted instead how impulsive, irrational and even reckless Nelson was when his robbery attempt spotaneously turned into a homicide.
S1, EP51 "Sparing A Convicted Killer's Life"
Poor cognitive function and impaired brain damage coupled with an abusive childhood were mitigating factors Scott Nelson's defense wanted jurors to consider in his death penalty trial. His lawyers portrayed the defendant as a recurring felon from an abusive childhood where the penitentiary system, made to rehabiliate offenders, just made him worse.
S1, EP52 "Death Row Or Life In Prison?"
Jury deliberations began for a second time in this trial. This time it was a matter of life or death. Jurors would need to decide whether or not Scott Nelson should face the death penalty for his role in the murder of Jennifer Fulford. After two days of deliberations, jurors reached their unanimous verdict in the fate of Nelson. Ironically, the very day of the verdict was also the victim, Jennifer Fulford's, birthday.
S1, EP49 "Kidnap, Torture And Murder"
During the State's long closing argument, jurors were retold the timeline of events that led to Jennifer Fulford's murder. The prosecutor reminded the jury how in a short period of time on one fateful morning Nelson kidnapped, carjacked, robbed, and then killed this 56-year-old nanny. Torture was one of the aggravating factors prosecutors claimed led to this murder. The State hoped the same jury that convicted Nelson of murder would also recommend that he faced the death penalty.
S1, EP48 "Aggravating Factors"
In the State's closing arguments, the prosecutor highlighted key aggravating factors that led to Jennifer Fulford's death. It included a cold, calculated plan for murder and the defendant's violent criminal past. According to the prosecution team, Scott Nelson committed this murder so he can have his day in Court where the world will finally hear his grievances on what he had to go through in the federal criminal justice system.
S1, EP47 "Antisocial Behavior"
Cross-examination continued on the State's mental health expert who dismissed the diagnosis that the defendant suffered mental illness when he killed Jennifer Fulford. The State wanted to show the jury that aggravating factors not mitigating factors was the culprit in these alleged crimes. According to psychologist Dr. Greg Prichard, Scott Nelson had the opportunity to do better and stay away from the same prison system that he hated.
S1, EP46 "Conduct Disorder"
Dr. Greg Prichard, a forensic psychologist, answered questions under cross-examination. The Defense challenged his claim that Scott Nelson did not suffer from any mental illness at the time he killed Jennifer Fulford. Dr. Prichard remained steadfast in his claim that Nelson's criminal behavior revealed a mix of personality issues of bad character traits. The mental health expert went on to say that Nelson exaggerated his time behind bars in federal prison.
