SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Wednesday morning, the defense delivered its closing argument in the murder trial of Persia Nelson, accused of causing the death of her baby daughter, Halo Branton.
Background
On March 10, 2024, Halo was found unresponsive in a utility pipe on the General Electric campus in Schenectady after a nightlong search. Prosecutors argue Nelson placed her daughter in the cold, dark structure and then walked away, leading to Halo’s death by hypothermia. Nelson faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and child endangerment. If convicted, she could face 25 years to life on the top charge…