Lawyers met with the judge Wednesday morning in advance of closing arguments and jury deliberations.
Curtis Vance has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in last year's death of KATV anchorwoman Anne Pressly, and could face the death penalty if convicted. Nearly 100 people gathered in Judge Chris Piazza's courtroom, including many from KATV. Piazza warned the crowd not to display their emotions.
Anne Pressly's mother took the stand last Wednesday, giving emotional testimony in day three of Curtis Vance's capital murder trial. The first person to find 26-year -old Anne Pressly badly beaten, is the person the prosecution says was her best friend, her mother, Patti Cannady. She called Pressly several times to wake her up for her early morning shift before going to check on her daughter. When she found her daughter, she said, "It was horrific. I couldn't imagine what I was seeing… I couldn't recognize my own daughter." She says she told her, "Momma's here, Momma's here" and says she is still in shock from the ordeal.
Another witness, sexual assault nurse examiner, Carla Jackson, took the stand saying Pressly suffered trauma all over her body. Jackson stated the wounds consisted of "massive massive head trauma," which ultimately caused her death.
The man who the prosecution says is responsible, 29-year-old Curtis Vance, is being charged with capital murder. They say DNA found at the crime scene and his police confessions make him guilty.
Defense attorneys disagree. They argue the police work is faulty and the pressure for authorities to make an arrest made them rush to an innocent Vance.
Closing arguments are expected to wrap up Wednesday afternoon, the death penalty case will then go to the jury.
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