10:20 Savannah Taylor take the stand. She is the mother of Hailey's best friend, whose house Hailey visited the day of the murder. She says Hailey was amazing, and was like one of their own. Hailey would come to their house every day or every other day. Taylor is in tears on the stand, talking about Hailey spending time at their house and seeing pictures from that day. Taylor says when Hailey left their house that day, she would walk down Lombard street She had a gut wrenching feeling when she heard of the Amber Alert. When she heard it was Hailey, she fell to the floor, crying.Her daughter saw the news on TV and was inconsolable. Taylor says her daughter isn't the same girl anymore, has distanced herself from friends and her mother, even moved out of mother's house, in with her father. She keeps panda bear in picture Hailey took that day as a reminder of Hailey. Taylor says her daughter sleeps with the stuffed animal every night. Taylor says she has regrets, wishes she wouldn't have sent Hailey home.
10:15 State calls witness SPD Detective Neal McAmis, who testified investigators did not speak to individuals mentioned. State calls Mark Johnson, computer forensics expert, who analyzed Craig Wood's phone. Friend of Wood text: "There is an Amber Alert in a 2008 Gold ranger. You haven't been hunting, have you?" Similar text from another friend. State mentioned in opening statements that friends jokingly texted Wood since vehicle description matched his.
10:00 Defense makes its opening statement. Defense Attorney Patrick Berrigan explains Wood, as well as his parents and brother have suffered from mental illness- depression. He explains Wood used drugs and alcohol to self medicate, says he's never achieved anywhere near his potential. Defense explains jury will hear from Wood's friends. He tells jury Craig's parents visit him weekly, and their relationship with them has never been stronger. He says their relationship can continue it he's allowed to live the remainder of his life in prison. Defense says Wood has followed the rules, behaved will in jail. Berrigan says Wood meets regularly with a priest who says he is remorseful. Defense asks that jury let Wood die in nature's time, and that will be sufficient.
9:50 Patterson asks jury to consider the torture Hailey went through. He asks them to hold Wood accountable to the highest degree the law will allow, to sentence him to death.
9:40 Jury brought in. Opening statements in penalty phase beginning. Prosecutor Dan Patterson goes first. He explains jury will hear from Hailey's family as well as Wood's friend and family. State uses the word "excuses" and defense objects. Attorneys and judge go to adjoining conference room. Judge states the jury should disregard the last statement. About a minute into resumed opening statement, defense objects again at Patterson's use of the statement, "There are no excuses." Back to conference room.
9:20 Defense objects to testimony from Hailey's friend's mother about the impact on her daughter. Judge denies motion. State has 17 witnesses on their list for the penalty phase. It's unknown if all will testify.
9:10 AM Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson argues, citing other cases, that sharing the effect of a murder on a community should be allowed. Defense argues victim impact shared in the trial should be limited to people close to the victim. Judge Mountjoy will allow evidence on community impact.
http://www.ky3.com/content/news/LIVE-BLOG-Craig-Wood-Sentencing-Phase-454736993.html