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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, EP37 "Prison Inmate To Homeless Drifter"
Life as a federal prison inmate was the focus of the Defense's case to jurors. A prison expert, who reviewed Scott Nelson's records of his many behind bars, testified on the numerous incidents he had while being incarcerated. Tim Gravette claimed Nelson was even a suicide risk in prison. But, when Nelson was not behind bars serving time he was homeless drifter loitering in different parts of town.
S1, EP38 "His Mental Health Evaluation"
Scott Nelson's mental health evaluation would be his defense's best evidence to spare his life from death row. On the stand was forensic psychologist Dr. Valerie McClain who evaluated the defendant. If his lawyers could convince the jury that he has significant psychological disorders and mental illness that may be enough to show Nelson wasn't fully cognitive aware on what he was doing when he kidnapped, robbed, and killed an Innocent Nanny.
S1, EP39 "Personality Disorders"
The forensic psychologist on the stand went through her results of Scott Nelson's mental health evaluation. According to Dr. Valerie McClain, Nelson's ability to analyze a situation, problem solve, or even think rationally was negatively affected by his serious mental health decline. The doctor went on to claim that the lack of treatment for Nelson's mental health woes only exacerbated his behavioral problems. He allegedly lacked coping skills due to his cognitive impairment.
S1, EP40 "Mental Health Decline"
Cross-examination continued the forensic psychologist who performed a full mental health evaluation of Scott Nelson. Dr. Valerie McClain testified that he suffered neurocognitive disorder which negatively affects his cognitive abilities like learning, memory, problem-solving and perception. Throughout the Defense's case jurors heard about his poor physical and mental Health. Ultimately, it would be up to them to decide whether these were serious mitigating factors to spare his life.
S1, EP36 "Federal Prison Records"
Scott Nelson was in and out of prison throughout his adult years. A good chunk of that was in federal prison. He was convicted on charges of kidnapping, assault, substance abuse and bank robbery. An expert in federal prisons took the stand with detail records of Nelson's time as a prison inmate. Tim Gravette claimed 95% of Nelson's time behind bars included him being placed in special housing away from the general prison population.
S1, EP35 "Declining Cognitive Functions"
Jurors learned more about Scott Nelson's apparently declining health which his defense wanted to highlight as a mitigating factor in his role in killing Jennifer Fulford. On the stand, was Dr. Mark Rubino, the neurologist who pointed out the fact that Nelson dealt with several concussions sustained from head injuries over the years. All this impaired his cognitive functioning. Next, a prison expert took the stand to enlighten jurors on Nelson's life as a federal prison inmate.
S1, EP34 "The Neurological Evaluation"
Scott Nelson's attorney brought in details of the neurological evaluation he underwent. While he was in jail on murder charges for the death of Jennifer Fulford, several mental health experts and medical doctors evaluated him for any and all issues. According to Dr. Mark Rubino, a neurologist, Nelson's medical history showed significant head injury and stroke. All this started from when Nelson was hit by a car as a little boy followed by numerous head injuries he sustained as a teenager.
S1, EP33 "Physical And Mental Health Woes"
Jurors heard about the mental and physical health issues of the defendant. Years before he killed Jennifer Fulford, Scott Nelson dealt with a range of serious health issues that included everything from poor memory and impaired verbal recall to coronary artery disease. Neuropsychologist Dr. Robert Ouaou faced cross-examination by the prosecution team. They wanted to play down that mental health woes was a mitigating factor to why and how Nelson committed this heinous crime.
