ORLANDO, Fla. — The jury has started the deliberations, as they decide if Scott Nelson, who is convicted of killing Jennifer Fulford, will receive the death penalty.
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The jury convicted Nelson in the murder of Fulford back in 2017, who was a nanny and personal assistant in Winter Park.
The jury will decide whether to sentence Nelson to death. The decision must be unanimous, or else Nelson will get life in prison.
#BREAKING - DEATH PENALTY DELIBERATIONS BEGIN - The jury just went into deliberations to decide whether Scott Nelson should get the death penalty - or life in prison for the 2017 killing of Winter Park nanny Jennifer Fulford. Stay with @MyNews13 for the very latest.
— Jeff Allen (@News13JeffAllen) July 10, 2019
On Wednesday morning, the jury heard closing arguments in the case.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS UNDERWAY in the trial of a man convicted in the killing of Winter Park nanny Jennifer Fulford. An asst state atty beginning her closing argument now. Jury will likely begin deliberations today to decide whether Scott Nelson should get death penalty. @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/wEPkxgxXCU
— Jeff Allen (@News13JeffAllen) July 10, 2019
On Tuesday, the state called a psychologist to the stand, who rebutted Nelson's claims on Monday that prison made him a homicidal maniac.
"The prison environment didn't create Mr. Nelson. Mr. Nelson is Mr. Nelson for a very long time, including when he was in the prison environment and when he was in the street," said Dr. Greg Prichard.
When Nelson took the stand on Monday, he described being treated unfairly for more than 20 years in prison.
"You go through such extreme situations, every shape manner and form. Locked in cells with extreme temperatures, cold, heat, insects, bugs. Pigeons, rats, roaches. Horrible food, abuse from staff. And that's the short list," he described.
His lawyers, trying to sway jurors saying that, compounded with his mental history, made him the man is today.
However, the psychologist's testimony was not the only thing that happened in the courtroom on Tuesday.
Judge Keith F. White questioned three jurors individually about an incident they reported while on a midday break, where jurors say a man approached them and told them that Scott Nelson should die. They say the man even became violent, punching a window and getting a bloody hand.
When White asked the jurors if they could still keep an open mind about the case, they all said yes.
Deliberations begin
Prosecutors and the defense gave closing arguments Wednesday.
The assistant state attorney was deliberate and aggressive. She said forgiveness, compassion, leniency, pity are words that should never be associated with Nelson — and death is the only appropriate sentence.
Nelson's defense attorney talked about decades of emotional abuse and physical trauma Nelson endured as a child and in prison that make him unable to control impulses.
Jurors began deliberating around 1 p.m. Wednesday. But at almost 9 p.m. Wednesday night, the jury asked to go home for the night, which the judge granted.
The jurors are prohibited from turning on their TVs in their hotel room or using their phones, since they are being sequestered.
Deliberations will resume Thursday at 9 a.m.