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Jury selection is set to resume today in the trial of Persia Nelson, who is accused of killing her 10-month-old daughter, Halo Branton, in Schenectady. The tragic incident occurred in March 2024 when Nelson allegedly dropped Halo down a drainage pipe near the General Electric campus. The child was found hours later and died from hypothermia.
According to Times Union, the trial began on Monday (September 29) under Judge Matthew Sypniewski. Three jurors were selected on the first day, and the process is expected to continue through today and possibly into Wednesday. Nelson faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and misdemeanor child endangerment. If convicted, she could face 25 years to life in prison.
The prosecution, led by Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Mike Nobles, plans to use evidence of Nelson's past behavior to argue that she showed depraved indifference toward her child. They highlighted an attempted sale of food stamps as indicative of her state of mind. However, defense attorney Mark Sacco contends that the incident was a tragic accident, emphasizing Nelson's intoxication at the time and her claim of being lost after attending a party.
As News10 reports, Sacco argues that Nelson fell down a ravine and placed Halo on what she thought was a safe structure. The defense plans to present expert testimony on hypothermia, the cause of Halo's death. The court aims to start opening statements on Wednesday (October 1).
WNYT notes that the trial is expected to last three weeks. The case has drawn significant attention, with many potential jurors expressing emotional reactions during selection. The court is focused on ensuring an impartial jury to fairly evaluate the evidence presented.