WINDSOR, NC. – After less than 45 minutes of deliberation, a Bertie County jury has found 31-year-old Antwan Pittman guilty of the death of 28-year-old Taraha Nicholson.
The verdict means Pittman will face a life sentence without probation. Pittman’s eyes immediately darting down, placing his hand on his chin.
After Antwan Pittman’s testimony, the defense continues to call witnesses – aiming at highlighting digital forensic data found on Pittman’s computer.
Pittman’s defense attorneys called Lawrence Daniel, a digital forensic examiner, as their first witnesses Thursday. Daniel testified to finding an email altered by someone other than Pittman proving, the defense says, that other people could have used Pittman’s computer.
Daniel also testified to finding very little porn on Pittman’s computer other than a few “preview clips” which had been deleted. He said those clips did contain pornographic material related to rape.
After cross examination where the prosecution further pushed the point that Daniel could not confirm Pittman did or did not visit the rape websites, the defense rested.
The defense will submit final evidence in the case before closing arguments are made and the jury moves to deliberation.
--- Previous Story, Pittman Trial Day 2 - Pittman takes the stand, denies killing Nicholson ---
WINDSOR, N.C. - Antwan Pittman takes the stand after shocking testimony from former prostitutes claiming to have been attacked and choked by Pittman.
31-year-old Antwan Pittman is charged with the 1st degree murder of 28-year-old Taraha Nicholson.
She was found dead in a wooded area of Seven Bridges and Old Battleboro Road back in 2009.
Pittman is believed to have grown up near Seven Bridges Road.
He is also suspected to be involved in eight other cases involved dead or missing women.
It was an emotional afternoon testimony in Windsor as two former prostitutes took the stand, describing - graphically - how they say Antwan Pittman took them to wooded areas and attacked them.
"I was on the car, like this. And he came behind me. As soon as I put my hand on the care he… like this," said Darlena Moore, a former prostitute.
Moore, a former prostitute, showed the jury how she says Pittman attacked her after taking her to a wooded area back in February 2004.
"At that time Mr. Antwan put his hands around my neck, choking me. Like that? Yes, he was choking me," said Moore.
Moore said she fought Pittman as he choked her, until she lost consciousness.
"I thought I was going to die; I thought it was over," said Moore.
When she came to, she says, he finally let her go. Her story, much like that of Lakisha Worsley's from 2006.
"And he reached over and he grabbed me by my throat," said Worsley.
Family's of the two women struggle to maintain composure.
"He said, 'shorty, shorty, hey shorty,' and I was like, 'huh?' and he said, 'shorty, you ain't dead are you?" said Worsley.
Pittman, taking the stand, had a different story when asked by his defense.
"I had never seen her a day in my life and she don't know me," said Pittman.
The former prostitute’s descriptions of the attack further backed the prosecution’s earlier witnesses Mike Schlitter, an SBI digital evidence analyst. Schlitter testified to finding history on Pittman’s computer of multiple visits to online porn sites involving rape and strangulation.
Pittman also maintained his innocence in relation to Taraha Nicholson.
"You had sex with her and dropped her off at the library and you did nothing else to her correct?” asked the prosecution, ‘Yeah, that's the last time I saw her, when I dropped her off at the library," said Pittman.
With Pittman's testimony complete, the trial is looking to close quickly. The jury deliberation beginning as early as tomorrow.
Earlier today...
DNA Analyst Sharon Hinton, a State witness, testifed that the DNA "can be no one other than" Antwan Pittmans, or a twin brother.
Hinton analyzed the DNA samples found in Taraha Nicholson and on her clothing. Hinton said she found traces of Nicholson's DNA along with an unknown "profile" in the DNA found inside Nicholson. She said she was able to match the unknown profile to Pittman after examining Pittman's DNA samples he provided.
She was not able to match Pittman's DNA samples to DNA found on Nicholson's underwear. The defense reviewed her testimony, pointing out that a third DNA profile was found on Nicholson's shirt, but was not identified.
The state then turning to Pittman’s computer where a digital evidence analyst testified to finding cookies and online history pointing to Taraha Nicholson.
“The picture entitled Taraha Nicolson that was pulled from the internet and located in the temporay internet files location was created on August 10th, 2009," said Mark Schlitter, SBI Digital Evidence Analyst.
The analyst also testified to finding online history of the visiting of rape websites and videos.
The defense objected to this witnesses’ testimony because Pittman is not charged with rape, however judge grant denied the objection.
Pittman's aunt, Karen Pittman, also took the stand shortly before the lunch recess. She confirmed that Pittman lived near Seven Bridges Rd in Rocky Mount during his childhood. The same road where Nicholson's body was found near.
31-Year-old Antwan Pittman is charged with the 1st Degree Murder of 28-year-old Taraha Nicholson back in 2009 and is a suspected in the death of eight other women across Edgecombe County.
Pittman's trial was moved to Windsor in Bertie County.
--- Previous Story, Pittman Trial Day 1 ---
WINDSOR, N.C. -- The defense is expected to pick up on Wednesday in the trial of Antwan Pittman.
Pittman is accused of strangling Taraha Nicholson two years ago.
On Tuesday during opening statements, Pittman's attorney told the court that Pittman will take the stand and explain what he did during his time with Nicholson, who they say was a prostitute.
The state's final witness testified that during an SBI interview Pittman said he was never with a prostitute, which goes against what Pittman's defense said during their opening statement.
---Previous Story, Antwan Pittman to testify in court---
WINDSOR, N.C. - Attorneys for Antwan Pittman, the man charged with first degree murder of an Edgecombe County woman, say he’ll testify in court.
The trial of the man charged with 1st Degree Murder started shortly after nine o'clock this morning.
Pittman was brought into the court room promptly at nine o'clock, showing little emotion throughout much of the morning.
During opening statements, the prosecutors emphasized the importance of the jurors role in the trial and "like pocket change" not to throw away their common sense; while the defense concentrated on outlining the upcoming case, along with what witnesses will testify to.
"Regardless of what you hear, do not take your reason, nor your common sense - at any time - and simply throw them away," said Steve Graham, State Prosecutor.
The defense also said Pittman would testify and explain his sexual encounter with Taraha Nicholson back in February of 2009 which, they say, ended with him dropping her off at the Rocky Mount library.
After opening statements, the state called their first witness. Witness Gene Harrell, investigator with the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office, spent most of the morning describing the crime scene verbally while also using maps and photographs.
They also showed graphic photos of Nicholson's body. Harrell describered her as being found in a field off Marriot-Farm Rd in Edgecombe county, mostly naked and on her right side.
The defense spent most of the morning working to poke holes in the prosecutor’s first witness and his account of the crime scene.
Medical Examiner Dr. William Oliver's testimony confirmed Taraha Nicholson's cause of death was strangulation with blunt force trauma to the head.
Another forensic scientist, Erin Ermish, testified to having analyzed samples from Nicholson's body that tested positive for large amounts of semen. Ermish said the semen was deposited less than 24 hours before Nicholson's death, but could not confirm who the semen belonged to.
---Previous Story, Jurors seated in Antwan Pittman trial---
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Twelve jurors are seated for the murder trial of Antwan Pittman.
Pittman is charged with the 2009 murder of Tarah Nicholson.
Pittman is also linked to deaths of seven other women, in Edgecombe County, but he is not charged in any of those cases yet.
Pittman's trial started today in Bertie County with the completion of jury selection.
The trial was moved from Edgecombe County to Bertie County to ensure a fair trial based on the amount of publicity the case has received.
Opening statements are scheduled to start tomorrow morning.
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