By Brian Lazenby
Staff Writer
A jury of eight women and four men deliberated about three hours today before finding that child rape and murder defendant Nicholas Todd Hilt was sane and guilty of the January 2003, beating death of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old child.
The jury found Mr. Hilt, 27, guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, child rape and aggravated child abuse.
Defense lawyer Lee Ortwein had argued that his client was insane at the time of the crime.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. They will begin the punishment phase of the trial this afternoon.
Executive Assistant District Attorney Barry Steelman said the burden is very low for prosecutors to meet the requirements for no parole.
They must prove that Mr. Hilt is more than 18 years old and that Nathaniel is less than 12.
Mr. Ortwein is expected to present mitigating evidence in hopes for parole for his client.
The jury will determine whether or not Mr. Hilt will be eligible for parole.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
Staff Writer
A jury of eight women and four men deliberated about three hours today before finding that child rape and murder defendant Nicholas Todd Hilt was sane and guilty of the January 2003, beating death of his girlfriend’s 5-year-old child.
The jury found Mr. Hilt, 27, guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, child rape and aggravated child abuse.
Defense lawyer Lee Ortwein had argued that his client was insane at the time of the crime.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. They will begin the punishment phase of the trial this afternoon.
Executive Assistant District Attorney Barry Steelman said the burden is very low for prosecutors to meet the requirements for no parole.
They must prove that Mr. Hilt is more than 18 years old and that Nathaniel is less than 12.
Mr. Ortwein is expected to present mitigating evidence in hopes for parole for his client.
The jury will determine whether or not Mr. Hilt will be eligible for parole.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
