09-22-2017, 02:06 PM
Closing Arguments - Defense
Zachary Adams, 33, has pleaded not guilty to felony first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape. In closing arguments, defense attorney Jennifer Thompson told jurors that Adams is "one hundred percent innocent of the charges he faces in this case."
Thompson, who spoke for nearly two hours, said the prosecution's theory was "full of holes" and claimed there was no evidence directly linking Adams to the murder.
"The cases in criminal court are not about what is possible, but what is provable without a reasonable doubt," Thompson said in her closing statement.
Autry had testified that Adams asked for his help in disposing Bobo's body. The two men drove to the Tennessee River with Bobo wrapped in a blanket in the back of a pickup truck, according to Autry. The plan, he told jurors, was to “gut her” and “put her in the deep end” of river so that her body would not float to the water’s surface. But when Bobo — who was thought to be dead — moved her foot and made a noise, Adams shot her in the head as Autry made sure no one else was watching, he testified.
Thompson called Autry's version of events "ridiculous" and claimed he concocted a lie so the state would not seek the death penalty in his case. "Jason Autry has sold his death penalty to the government," Thompson said. "The only price he had to pay was this tall tale he came up with in January."
Thompson said the man responsible for Bobo's murder is Terry Britt, a convicted sex offender known locally as "Chester the Molester" who was at one time considered a suspect by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/21/hol...trial.html
Zachary Adams, 33, has pleaded not guilty to felony first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape. In closing arguments, defense attorney Jennifer Thompson told jurors that Adams is "one hundred percent innocent of the charges he faces in this case."
Thompson, who spoke for nearly two hours, said the prosecution's theory was "full of holes" and claimed there was no evidence directly linking Adams to the murder.
"The cases in criminal court are not about what is possible, but what is provable without a reasonable doubt," Thompson said in her closing statement.
Autry had testified that Adams asked for his help in disposing Bobo's body. The two men drove to the Tennessee River with Bobo wrapped in a blanket in the back of a pickup truck, according to Autry. The plan, he told jurors, was to “gut her” and “put her in the deep end” of river so that her body would not float to the water’s surface. But when Bobo — who was thought to be dead — moved her foot and made a noise, Adams shot her in the head as Autry made sure no one else was watching, he testified.
Thompson called Autry's version of events "ridiculous" and claimed he concocted a lie so the state would not seek the death penalty in his case. "Jason Autry has sold his death penalty to the government," Thompson said. "The only price he had to pay was this tall tale he came up with in January."
Thompson said the man responsible for Bobo's murder is Terry Britt, a convicted sex offender known locally as "Chester the Molester" who was at one time considered a suspect by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/21/hol...trial.html