Related To Story |
BLOG: Prosecutor Calls July 4 Shootings 'A Massacre'
POSTED: 2:28 pm EDT May 14,
2008
UPDATED: 5:14 pm EDT May 14,
2008
CLEVELAND -- NewsChannel5 reporter Bob Jones is covering the trial of Cleveland firefighter Terrance Hough who is accused of shooting three people on Sky Lane Drive on July 4, 2007. Read his blog here:2 p.m. The jury will begin deliberations after a lunch break.12:21 p.m.Prosecutor Kosko said Hough pumped 7 bullets into 3 victims in a matter of seconds.Kosko said Hough then had the nerve to say to his neighbor, "I snapped. I shot those people. Did I kill them?"He should have "spit in their face and said are you dead yet?" Kokso told the jury.Kosko said Hough's plan was carried out by "a cowardly, frustrated and angry man."Kosko also said this was not murder.Kosko said it was "cold, calculated aggravated murder pure and simple."12:05 p.m.Prosecutor Kosko said Hough stated his intent to kill when he used a vulgar word before shootings the victims and said, "You (expletive) kids won't be doing this anymore."Kosko said Hough treated Jacob Feichtner "worse than an animal he hunted in the woods."Kosko said the victims had no chance to defend themselves.Kosko said Hough was determined to kill those people.Kosko said Hough pulled off the crimes "flawlessly, efficiently and coldly."11:54 a.m.Defense attorney Jack Hildebrand is giving his closing now.He said this was "a horrendous event."Hildebrand also pointed out that Terrance Hough has a constitutional right to not testify.Hildebrand said there is no doubt Hough killed the victims.However, the defense says the prosecution did not prove "prior calculation and design."The defense says Hough should not be convicted of aggravated murder because he didn't "scheme" to commit the murders.The defense is trying to convince the jury to convict Hough of a lesser charge such as murder or voluntary manslaughter.Hildebrand said Hough was "enraged" that night.Hildebrand said Hough "lost it and he snapped."11:42 a.m.John Kosko is now doing the prosecutor's second closing.11:25 a.m.Prosecutor Hilow called Terrance Hough "a bully and a coward."She called the shootings "a massacre."She said Hough shot Bruce Anderson and Catherine Rosby in their backs."Can you think of a more cowardly act?" Hilow asked the jury.Hilow said Hough knew what he was doing and kept firing until there he emptied the bullets from his gun.Hilow said Hough didn't "snap." Hilow said Hough "planned to kill that night and that's exactly what he did."10:25 a.m.Detective Joe Bovenzi from the Cleveland Police Department says the Hough Children were never in the basement after the shootings.Bovenzi, who was off duty and lives in the neighborhood, says he never allowed Terrance Hough to leave his kitchen table. Bovenzi says he held Terrance at gunpoint and that he would have shot Terrance if he got up from the table.This testimony contradicts what Terrance Hough's estranged wife, Regina, said on Tuesday. She said Terrance went down the basement to hug his kids and tell them goodbye after the shootings. Both sides have rested.Closing arguments will start after a recess.10:02 a.m.After calling just one witness, the defense rested.The prosecution plans to call a rebuttal witness.
Copyright 2008 by NewsNet5. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
















