GUILTY NC - Melissa Huggins-Jones, 30, murdered in her Raleigh home, 14 May 2013

[Chelly]

Amanda Lamb (WRAL) ‏@alamb 5m5 minutes ago
.@WRAL prosecutor says its also malice and premeditation: "They decided she had to die so they could live." #wral

 

[eppylu]

I don't know what the defense could say to possibly erase or contradict this closing.

 

[Madeleine74]

There's nothing the defense can do. Their client is toast and they know it. Their goal is to make sure he's not given the DP.

 

[Chelly]

Steve Sbraccia ‏@steveswncn 5m5 minutes ago
Waller puts two piles of evidence on witness stand. One pile for Ron Anthony, the other for Travion Smith. #wncn


Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#TravionSmithTrial - Prosecution is finished. 1 hour lunch then defense will wrap up. Court resumes 1:30pm.

 

[Madeleine74]

I missed the last 20+ minutes, will have to watch that part later.

 

[Boodles]

All dots connected, great closing.

Will the jury return a verdict today? I think they just do G/NG at this point, sentencing later? Trying to remember how the Jason Williford trial went down...

 

[Madeleine74]

Yes this phase is just guilt phase. Next phase is life/death if they vote guilty.

 

[Madeleine74]

Prosecution Closing Arguments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qmh_ZsQuBQ&feature=youtu.be

 

[Chelly]

Ed Crump ‏@EdCrumpABC11 21m21 minutes ago
Defense: Jailhouse informant only witness to put Smith inside victim's apt.#TravionSmithTrialhttp://abc11.tv/1giDDkx

Ed Crump ‏@EdCrumpABC11 13m13 minutes ago
Of course that was the one witness we weren't allowed to hear... #TravionSmithTrial http://abc11.tv/1giDDkx #ABC11

 

[Chelly]

Ed Crump ‏@EdCrumpABC11 2m2 minutes ago
Def. atty. Jonathan Broun concludes by saying prosecution cannot prove Smith's guilt. #TravionSmithTrial #ABC11

Ed Crump ‏@EdCrumpABC11 1m1 minute ago
Judge giving jury instructions in #TravionSmithTrial. Watch here live: http://abc11.tv/1giDDkx #ABC11

 

[Madeleine74]

You know what else puts Smith inside the apt?

- His shoe prints on the carpet
- Him wiping down the patio railing (why the need to wipe it down, they were wearing gloves)
- The fact he used bottled water to clean his hands, same as Anthony. You don't use bottled water to wash your hands unless you need to get something off of your hands. Blood!
- Blood seen on his shirt, as testified by Redden. Just a coincidence?
- He was able to describe, in detail, the sound of the scream, that it was a woman.
- His own statement, "what the hell happened in there?" Why would he think anything happened if he wasn't in there. No one was talking, according to Redden's testimony.

GUILTY, IMO.

 

[Madeleine74]

Jury now deliberating in the guilt phase.

Alternates released *for the day only.* They might be needed for the next phase if jury votes guilty.

 

[Boodles]

The acting in concert jury instruction pretty much ascertains a guilty verdict IMO. They were sent out at 2:35. How long will they take? Tick tock.

 

[Chelly]

Verdict tomorrow?

 

[borndem]

Well, I forgot about my study meeting this morning, so I got here just in time to see the very last part of the charge to the jury. I'll have to catch up on the closing arguments using the youtube arguments. I hope the prosecution hit the right things hard!

Now we're also "at ease," and we'll just wait & see... Hi to all!!

 

[Madeleine74]

It would only take me a few minutes to render my verdict (guilty 1st degree), but there's that whole pesky deliberating with others thing...

Tomorrow would be my guess since court breaks at/around 4:30pm.

 

[Madeleine74]

State (Jason Waller) did a great closing, IMO. Yes, he hit all the points and he hit 'em hard. To me this is slam dunk guilty.

 

[borndem]

Amanda Lamb (WRAL) ‏@alamb 1m1 minute ago
.@WRAL "This is a crime about Ronald Anthony," defense attorney says on behalf of Travion Smith. #wral

No, this is a crime about Melissa Huggins-Jones. Grrrrrr.

 

[Madeleine74]

Defense won no points with that jury, I'm sure of it. In fact I thought they helped the prosecution.

 

[borndem]

That's kinda weird...Isn't it usually the opposite? Prosecution, defense, prosecution? I guess it varies...

In North Carolina, the prosecution will present their closing arguments last unless the defense does not present a case. In that situation, the defense has the last say.