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Updated: Prosecutor: Nash Is Killer, DNA Will Prove It
By
KSPR News
Story Created:
Oct 26, 2009 at 5:24 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Oct 26, 2009 at 10:28 PM CDT
Prosecutors on Monday began laying out their case against a Dent County man accused of killing his girlfriend in 1982.
Donald "Doc" Nash is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Judy Spencer. The trial is being held in Phelps County on a change of venue.
Nash was arrested after DNA testing was done in the cold case.
Ted Bruce, a special prosecutor, told the six-man, six-woman jury that science will prove Nash is the killer. He also belittled Nash, saying "Judy was out of (his) league and he knew it."
But defense attorney Frank Carlson did his own belittling, dismissing the DNA results as "meaningless and circumstantial." He noted that Spencer and Nash lived together, so they were likely "coated in each others' DNA."
The state called four witnesses on Monday, after opening statements. Those witnesses included a relative of Judy Spencer; a pathologist; a friend of the victim; and a former state trooper.
Prosecutors expect to take at least one more day to present their case-in-chief. The defense hasn't yet said whether it will call Nash to the stand.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Nash faces up to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have waived the death penalty.
Click on our video report to hear more from the first day of trial.
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