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Testimony continues today in the Schenectady murder trial of Persia Nelson, who is accused of causing the death of her infant daughter, Halo Branton. Prosecutors allege that Nelson, 26, abandoned her nearly 11-month-old daughter in a drainage pipe near the General Electric campus last year, leading to the child's death from hypothermia and exposure.
The prosecution, led by Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham, argues that Nelson's actions on the night of March 9, 2024, were deliberate. They claim Nelson left a family party in a fit of anger, carrying her baby without proper clothing or supplies, and eventually placed her in a dangerous location.
Defense attorney Mark Sacco counters that Nelson loved her child and intended to return to the original party location but got lost due to unfamiliarity with the area and severe weather conditions. Sacco argues that Nelson's actions do not demonstrate depraved indifference for human life, a key element of the second-degree murder charge she faces.
During the trial, witnesses have included law enforcement officers, family members, and a security guard who found Nelson on the GE campus. The trial will continue with further testimonies, as the defense seeks to challenge the prosecution's narrative and evidence.