Photo: lakshmiprasad S / iStock / Getty Images
Closing arguments are scheduled to take place today in the murder trial of Persia Nelson, a Schenectady mother accused of abandoning her infant daughter, who later died of hypothermia. The trial, which has captured local attention, centers around the tragic death of Nelson's 10-month-old daughter near the General Electric campus last year.
The prosecution concluded its case on Tuesday (October 14) by calling Dr. Stewart Harris, an emergency physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, to testify. Dr. Harris stated that Nelson appeared "clinically sober and cognitively functional" based on his review of security footage. He also questioned her claims of memory loss, stating it made no physiological sense.
The defense, led by attorney Mark J. Sacco, argued that the difficult conditions on the night in question impacted Nelson's stress and memory. Sacco described the terrain as challenging, with swamps, hills, and mud, and noted the temperature was a cold 35 degrees. He emphasized that Nelson did everything she could to save her child, calling the incident a "terrible, terrible accident."
Nelson faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, she could face 25 years to life in prison. The outcome of the trial will hinge on the jury's interpretation of the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.