The defense urged the jury to focus on “reasonable doubt.” Keepers’ attorney Kris Olin reminded the jury that the Commonwealth has to not only prove their case but also disprove any other reasonable possibility.
Olin told the jury that the Commonwealth had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Keepers shared David Eisenhauer’s criminal intent to kill Lovell and allegedly encouraged, aided, or incited Eisenhauer.
During his closing statement, Olin read statements from Keepers initial interrogation. Keepers had said that she didn’t think that Eisenhauer “would actually kill that girl” and that she was “just playing along with his fantasy.”
He also said that because Natalie didn’t know Nicole, she had no motive for the kill her. He said that Keepers “loved being part of the plan, not because it was a plan to murder but because it was a plan to be close to David.”
Olin told the jury that “playing along” is not the same as “shared intent.” “All that is required is a ‘maybe,'" he said.
Commonwealth Attorney, Mary Pettitt then gave her closing argument. At the end of her statement, she said that during her opening statements she told the jury she would ask them to find Natalie Keepers guilty. “I am absolutely asking you to find her guilty,” Pettitt said before returning to her seat.
During both the Commonwealth’s and the Defense’s closing statements, Natalie Keepers put her head down at times, sometimes wiping tears from her eyes or shaking her head.
UPDATE: Jury begins deliberating in Natalie Keepers trial
