At approximately 5:30pm central time, jurors went back into the courtroom, so that the judge could answer a question they had.
Members of the Lockhart Murder Trial jury as for a definition of the word, "intent." The judge read them the legal definition, then the jury resumed deliberations.
Court watchers say they expect the judge to allow them to continue to deliberate until approximately 6pm central time. At that point, the expect the judge to dismiss them for the night.
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The prosecution started off the morning by resting their case. The defense called 2 witnesses, a forensic scientist and Lockhart’s former fiancé, to the stand then rested its case.
The scientist concluded that Lockhart showed signs of PTSD but not enough for a diagnosis. Lockhart’s former fiancé and the mother of his daughter, said one day she came home and Lockhart had a gun to his head, and said he life was over.
In the prosecution's closing arguments, all three attorneys representing the state spoke. Robbie Treese pointed out that the jurors have all sat in relatively the same seats throughout the trial. He then sat in a chair the way the state believes Burk did. Treese mentioned Burk was naked when she was riding in the car with Lockhart.
Keisha Abercrombie, also with the D.A.’s office, pulled out a bulletin board to support the state's case. She walked the jury through a time-line of events leading up to and following Burk’s death.
Speaking about Burk’s last moments alive, District attorney Nick Abbett says Lockhart said, "I guess she thought it was her only chance to get away."
Defense attorney Joel Collins pulled Lockhart’s gun out of the evidence bag to show the jury. He reminded the jury that the firearms expert the state called to testify couldn't even get the gun barrel open.
Collins demonstrated how his client was holding the gun on the seat of the car. He says Lockhart was talking about how horrible his life was.
District attorney Abbett used a childhood reference to summarize Lockhart’s defense. Abbett said "What did the school yard bully say? I didn't mean it."
The defense has at least 5 more witnesses that didn't take the stand during the first phase of the trial. Those witnesses, who include Lockhart’s mother, could take the stand during the sentencing phase if he is found guilty. The jury will recommend a sentence but ultimately the choice is Judge Jacob Walker's.
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