By Brian Lazenby
Staff Writer
Jurors in Hamilton County Criminal Court laid their eyes on murder and child rape defendant Nicholas Todd Hilt for the first time today after all the evidence had been presented and lawyers concluded closing arguments.
He appeared in a wrinkled gray suit and sat with his head on the table as Judge Don Poole explained the law to the jury.
Jurors began deliberating Mr. Hilt’s fate this morning.
He is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, child rape and aggravated child abuse in the January 2003 death of 5-year-old Nathaniel Upshaw.
Throughout the proceedings, Mr. Hilt repeatedly told the judge that he did not wish to be present.
Defense lawyer Lee Ortwein argued that Mr. Hilt was insane on the day his girlfriend’s child was brutally raped and killed. He told jurors that Mr. Hilt often “had conversations with dead people.”
But District Attorney Bill Cox said Mr. Hilt knew exactly what he was doing.
“People do horrible things,” he said. “This man has done horrible things, and now is the time to pay for those things. This is the day of reckoning.”
Prosecutors are seeking life without the possibility of parole for Mr. Hilt.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
Staff Writer
Jurors in Hamilton County Criminal Court laid their eyes on murder and child rape defendant Nicholas Todd Hilt for the first time today after all the evidence had been presented and lawyers concluded closing arguments.
He appeared in a wrinkled gray suit and sat with his head on the table as Judge Don Poole explained the law to the jury.
Jurors began deliberating Mr. Hilt’s fate this morning.
He is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, child rape and aggravated child abuse in the January 2003 death of 5-year-old Nathaniel Upshaw.
Throughout the proceedings, Mr. Hilt repeatedly told the judge that he did not wish to be present.
Defense lawyer Lee Ortwein argued that Mr. Hilt was insane on the day his girlfriend’s child was brutally raped and killed. He told jurors that Mr. Hilt often “had conversations with dead people.”
But District Attorney Bill Cox said Mr. Hilt knew exactly what he was doing.
“People do horrible things,” he said. “This man has done horrible things, and now is the time to pay for those things. This is the day of reckoning.”
Prosecutors are seeking life without the possibility of parole for Mr. Hilt.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
