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February 25, 2008
Posted: 04:09 PM ET

NEW YORK – In Session continues coverage this week of the penalty phase in the case of Bobby Cutts, convicted of double murder in the death of Jessie Davis and her unborn daughter, Chloe. Correspondent Beth Karas is bringing you all the details from inside the Canton, Ohio, courtroom.

ALT TEXT

Bobby Cutts tears up as his mother tells the jury about his childhood.

Cutts’ defense team is trying to persuade the jury to spare the former police officer’s life. Read more

On Wednesday, correspondent Jean Casarez returns Wisconsin to continue our gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Wisconsin v. Mark Jensen. A jury found the 48-year-old Jensen guilty last week of intentional homicide for poisoning his wife, Julie, with ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze.

Both sides can present evidence before Jensen is sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison. Judge Bruce Schroeder has the discretion to decide when and if he will be eligible for parole.

Our producer in Colorado continues to cover the trial of Shawna Nelson, the wife of a sheriff’s investigator, who is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of a fellow cop’s wife. Prosecutors say Nelson was angry when Ignacio Garraus ended their affair, and allegedly shot his wife, Heather. Look for that case to air on In Session in the future.

Carolyn Purcell, In Session senior executive producer

Filed under: Carolyn Purcell • Trial tracker


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erika   February 25th, 2008 10:10 pm ET

I think that Jensen is worst then Cutts. At least Cutts admitted what he did and apologized. We can all see how he is suffering the fact that he left a child without a mother, he has lots of feelings of guilt. While Jensen in the other hand, even seeing all of this evidence won’t admit he is a murdered, shows no emotion and laughs like if he didn’t care about this children he left motherless.

Tya Bowen   February 26th, 2008 10:06 am ET

I believe the death penatly in the US should be enforced even more. I believe if it is we would cut crime in the US as a whole by a considerable amount. The crime rates are so high in the US because the penalty for crime isn’t as harsh as it should be.

Patricia Ernest   February 26th, 2008 10:15 am ET

I believe in the death penalty. There are some henious murder cases that a person does not deserve to live EVEN in the awful cells of prison. I do believe that Bobby Cutts was aware of what he was doing,and IF he didn’t intend to murder,he –being a policeman, could have gotten elp. He is a cowardly person;using the jury to save his own skin.

becky   February 26th, 2008 10:20 am ET

It makes me sick to think that this poor excuse for a man and a “good father” will not be punished appropriately for his horrendous crime. He should receive the death penalty.This case is a prime example of why we have it.

sidney   February 26th, 2008 10:20 am ET

the question was asked whether the death penalty should be abolished of course. when you look at the fact that there were 13 individuals on death row in the state of illinois who were not guilty of the crimes that they convicted of it leads on to wonder just how many
innocnet men and women who have been murdered that were innocent. the death penalty is a flowed system that need to be abolished. it is unacceptable to accept any being murdered at the hands of our goverment that are or were innocent .

Janusz Janas   February 26th, 2008 10:24 am ET

It is pathetic listening to a grown man stooping and begging and crying crocodile tears! Those were not the emotions he most likely exhibited as he was murdering Ms. Davis. Fry the man and save us some dollars. Ms. Davis has no one dealing with her mitigating factors, which by the way, is legalese mumble jumble.

Donald   February 26th, 2008 10:28 am ET

Why are you covering a trial in Colorado when it is not shown on TruTV or Computer?

vickie sater   February 26th, 2008 10:30 am ET

I will never understand why it is ok to put someone to death,when it says in our bible,”thou shall not kill”,why is it ok for the justice system to take someone’s life,in return for someone else’s ?Why did OJ.Simpson get by the justice system when we all know he went over to the mother of his children’s home ,in a rage ,with a knife,and never showed any remorse in that court room,i think Bobby Cutts is truly sorry for what he done,and not just because of what he’s facing,and i do beleive it was an accident.And just because he had affairs and did’nt pay child support did’nt make him a murderer.And he does’nt have a past of violence.Also,just because of what has happened ,his other children ,including Blake,should’nt have to go through life without having a father,none of this is their fault,and as long as there is life,i beleive there is hope!

Miriam   February 26th, 2008 11:19 am ET

I believe this was a vicious accident not premeditated murder and he panicked…..life in prison would be justice.

Sandra   February 26th, 2008 11:25 am ET

If Bobby Cutts doesn’t deserve the death penalty then what case possibly could? I hope the jury does the right thing and gives him the death penalty. I would be absolutely irate if one of my tax dollars went toward feeding and clothing Bobby Cutts for the rest of his life - ridiculous!

Johnnie Turnage   February 26th, 2008 11:33 am ET

Just because he is a cop he should not be immune to the law. He took an oath to protect and serve and he deserves the death penalty. Cops are not above the law.

deeda   February 26th, 2008 11:37 am ET

Please spare bobbys life he’s sincere

Dianna Teeter   February 26th, 2008 11:43 am ET

I have no sympathy for Cutts. This is a man who took an oath to serve and protect and the people who depended on him the most where murdered by him. A life for a life. Why should he be allowed to breathe, laugh, cry, when Jesse and her baby were not allowed this right. And why should the taxpayers of Ohio have to support him the rest of his life? Our prisons are full now. Murders’, rapists’, and child molesters’, need to be executed.

Jean Robinson   February 26th, 2008 11:47 am ET

I think Bobby Cutts should get the death penalty. I believe those who take life should have their life taken from them. I don’t think there are any mitigating circumstances. If he didn’t want them to die he should have got help immediately! My son and daughter-in-law helped look for Jessie and Bobby Cutts could have spoken up any time during those 9 days and didn’t! This is not the actions of a man who is truly sorry. He has thought only of himself through this whole thing.

Emily Bryant   February 26th, 2008 11:59 am ET

I was wondering if there were any Victim Impact Statements made?
We all heard Mr. Cutts cry on the stand once again. While it was ‘moving’, I can’t consider it fair. The jury should also hear tears from the friends and family of the slain young woman and her unborn baby girl.

joann guess   February 26th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

If life in prison was the worst punishment, Cutts would not be begging for his life

LYNN   February 26th, 2008 12:33 pm ET

I DON’T THINK HE SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH, I DON’T FEEL HE WENT OVER THERE TO KILL HER OR HIS BABY. HE SHOULD JUST GET LIFE. SO HE CAN STILL SEE HIS OTHER CHILDREN. LYNN, POLAND MAINE

Anissa   February 26th, 2008 12:35 pm ET

No I don’t think that Bobby should get the death penalty because I do believe it was and accident and he panic, and who are we to decide who live or who dies doesn’t that make us just as guilty as him. Be merciful because that could one day be your child sitting in the hot seat.

John   February 26th, 2008 12:35 pm ET

I do not believe they should spare his(Cutts) life. Just because he had an argument w/ his wife, he went to Jessicas and his Son Blakes house and took it out on them. Also, lets do not forget Baby Chloe, she didn’t have a clue. But, she is is gone also. There is no justice for this crime. His wife should stop and think! it could have been her. She was lucky. (Kelly). If you are going to quote scripture then eye for an eye. Some of your guest on the show today mentioned it. (Scripture)

tamara a   February 26th, 2008 12:39 pm ET

I THINK THAT BOBBY NEEDS THE DEATH PENALTY!! HE DON’T DESEVER TO LIVE. HE COULD OF THOUGHT OF HIS UNBORN CHILD!!!! I CAN’T BELEAVE HIM AND THAT HE WASNT THINKING!!!! ONCE IT COMES TO KILLING UNBORN BABBIE I BELEAVE THAT PEOPLE NEEDS TO BE KILLED!!!!!

Tanys   February 26th, 2008 12:42 pm ET

I think Bobby Cutts should get the death penalty, there is no real feelings from this man, his false tears are for himself. I believe he went to his girlfriends house with the intention of harming her, if it was an accident, he would have made an attempt to save her life, he was a police officer he knows all the tricks of the trade. He took the life of a woman and her unborn baby, and put his other small child in arms way, a life for a life, as far as Im concerned.

Jim Van Vleck   February 26th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

Why do we kill people that kill people to prove that killing people is wrong?

Deborah   February 26th, 2008 1:12 pm ET

It is sometimes our duty to sit on a jury and judge another guilty or not. Anytime we are to judge another it should be just as hard as it is to judge death penalty or not! Either way their fate is in our hands.

Linda   February 26th, 2008 1:35 pm ET

To me, this guy comes across as being VERY sorry he got caught and very sorry he did not get away with it. If he was truly sorry for what he did, then why is he just now apologizing for it….why didn’t he apologize all teary eyed before the trial?

He’s scared of losing his life, and it shows. Cutts has not been a model father, but now he’s using his kids as human shields to avoid the death penalty. His defense said this was an isolated incident. Aren’t they all islodated incidents the first time someone goes too far? But even for a serial killer, there was a first time.

Alison   February 26th, 2008 5:17 pm ET

Scott Peterson got the death penalty for basically the same crime.
What would be any different in this case?

Bobbie   February 28th, 2008 2:46 pm ET

The problem with the death penalty is it is not enforced on a consistent basis. Peterson was sentenced to death and Cutts was not for the same crime. That is not justice. If we are going to have a death penalty, we need to make it fair across the board. It should be murder someone, get the death penalty. Better yet, maybe we need a better justice system.

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Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

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Ashleigh Banfield
Co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield and Ford: Courtside
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Attorney Jean Casarez covers trials around the country
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Beth Karas
Former prosecutor Beth Karas covers trials around the country
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