A woman accused of killing her Rolando stepfather are guilty of "an appalling crime," prosecutors say during closing arguments on Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Hansen killed Timothy MacNeil in July 2007 with the help of her brother, Nathaniel Gann, who is now 20. She was 18 at the time. Gann, whose first trial ended in a mistrial, is being retried at the same time his sister faces her first trial. MacNeil was tied up and shot to death by Gann during what was a staged robbery, prosecutors believe.
Hansen openly wept in court during what was obviously an emotional day for her. Deputy District Attorney George Bennett saw her crying and commented on it to the jury.
"Those tears and that expression are too late," Bennett said.
Deputy District Attorney George Bennett told the court that it was a cold-blooded killing.
"It is without an excuse, it is without justification, and it was accomplished by lying in wait," Bennett told jurors.
Hansen's attorney said her client participated planning the crime but then had a change of heart and was unable to stop the killing from taking place.
"Brae Hansen tried to stop this from happening," Troy Britt told the court.
The jury began its deliberations on Wednesday afternoon. Gann is being tried at the same time by a separate jury. That panel will hear closing arguments on Thursday. The first verdict to be reached will be sealed until the other jury concludes its deliberations.
