Tearful testimony detailing the devastation wrought by convicted killer Steven Lawayne Nelson brought to a close the prosecution's case for the death penalty in the brutal suffocation death of an Arlington pastor.
Laura Dobson, widow of pastor Clint Dobson, told jurors in state District Judge Mike Thomas' court Friday that she is still trying to recover from the loss of her husband and the future they had planned together."We always tried to see the good in people," she told jurors. "I didn't know this much evil existed in the world."The conflict between good and evil was never more apparent than during testimony Friday, when family and friends told jurors of the good works done by Clint Dobson, 28, pastor of NorthPointe Baptist Church.Nelson, 25, of Arlington was convicted Monday of capital murder in the death of Dobson, who was beaten, bound and suffocated with a plastic bag during a robbery of the church building on March 3, 2011. Church secretary Judy Elliott was also beaten and left for dead but survived.Nelson is facing either the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Prosecutors Bob Gill and Page Simpson have presented more than four days of testimony this week in seeking the death penalty, showing Nelson's extensive criminal record, the mayhem he has caused in the Tarrant County Jail and his failure to change after special counseling.Jurors also learned that Nelson is believed to be responsible for the hanging death of a mentally ill man, Johnathan Holden, 30, who was placed in a cell near him in the jail. Nelson has also been indicted on a charge that he assaulted a jailer.On Friday, however, jurors saw photos of Clint Dobson in happier times -- on his wedding day, helping a young autistic man, playing guitar while helping the Salvation Army's red kettle drive and laughing with his sister -- as witnesses described a young man dedicated to his faith and to helping others.Laura Dobson's father, cardiologist Phillip Rozeman of Shreveport, La., testified that the family will work to help his daughter recover once the trial is over."It's been 589 days since Clint died, and on almost every single one of them we've talked about this trial," he said. "We're going to have to help her reconstruct her life."Elliott, who does not remember the assault, watched the testimony from the courtroom but did not testify. Her husband, John Elliott, testified that she was fearful even for him to take the witness stand."I'm constantly looking over my shoulder now, much more aware of my surroundings," he said. "The psychologist told us we had lost our innocence."Dobson's older sister, Sarah Mitchell, tearfully told jurors that her brother's death has devastated her and her parents."It's a hole in our lives that nothing can ever fill," she said.Defense attorneys Bill Ray and Steve Gordon will begin presenting their case for the lesser sentence starting Monday.Expert witnesses are expected to testify about Nelson's ongoing struggles with mental illness in hopes of convincing jurors that mitigating circumstances make him less culpable for the crime.Nelson has said he has multiple personalities -- with names like Tanker, Rico and Romeo -- who take over and commit crimes. He has been taking medication throughout the trial, and has largely sat quietly in his shackles and "stun cuff" ankle bracelet.Testimony is set to resume at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Criminal District Court No. 4.Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084Twitter: @DiannaHuntHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
