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Jury deliberations underway in Windsor Hills crash case
Nicole Linton was initially charged with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, but the less serious charges were dismissed after the prosecution announced at a hearing shortly before the trial began that it was not going to proceed with those counts, according to court records.
LOS ANGELES - Jury deliberations are underway in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom in the murder trial of 41-year-old traveling nurse Nicole Linton.
Jurors are weighing weeks of emotional testimony and technical evidence to determine Linton's criminal responsibility for the fatal August 2022 Windsor Hills crash that killed six people, including an unborn child.
What we know:
The 12-member jury began their private discussions Friday following closing arguments that centered on Linton's state of mind when her Mercedes-Benz plowed through a red light at 130 mph.
The tragic multi-vehicle collision at La Brea and Slauson avenues claimed the lives of 23-year-old Asherey Ryan, who was 8 ½ months pregnant, her 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero, her 24-year-old boyfriend Reynold Lester, her unborn child Armani Lester, and two women traveling in a Nissan, 43-year-old Nathesia Lewis and 38-year-old Lynette Noble.
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Testimony continues in trial for deadly 2022 Windsor Hills crash
During the murder trial of 41-year-old traveling nurse Nicole Linton—charged with six counts of murder for an Aug. 4, 2022, crash at La Brea and Slauson avenues that killed six people, including an unborn baby—prosecutors told jurors Tuesday that she sped through a red light at 130 mph, while her defense attorney argued she suffered a seizure and should be acquitted.
State prosecutors presented telemetry showing sustained acceleration and precise steering along the road's curve, arguing Linton consciously channeled her anger into her driving after leaving work mid-shift.
On the other hand, defense attorneys urged the jury to evaluate medical evidence suggesting Linton suffered an unexpected seizure that rendered her rigid and unconscious at the wheel.
What we don't know:
It's unknown how long the jury will deliberate before reaching a consensus on the six counts of second-degree murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Nicole Linton murder trial: Jurors shown graphic video of Windsor Hills crash that killed 6
- Prosecutors: Mercedes-Benz driver was in 13 crashes before Windsor Hills
- Lawyer for Nicole Linton says she had a medical episode prior to deadly Windsor Hills crash
- Windsor Hills crash victims remembered in makeshift memorial
What they're saying:
During her closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Antonella Nistorescu argued that the crash was an entirely preventable act and insisted that Linton was conscious the entire time.
efense attorney Jovan Blacknell countered that the core issue in dispute was what was going on in Nicole's mind, telling the jury that a medical emergency behind the wheel is not murder and maintaining that Linton did not know she was going to have a seizure.
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Windsor Hills crash victims honored
A celebration of life was held in Inglewood Tuesday for Asherey Ryan, Alonzo Quintero, and Armani Lester who were killed in a crash in Windsor Hills in early August.
Deputy District Attorney Brittany Vannoy told jurors in her rebuttal that Linton channeled her fury into her driving and urged them to hold her accountable.
Former District Attorney George Gascón previously emphasized the catastrophic impact on the victims' families, noting that a young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye.
What's next:
The jurors will continue their deliberations until they reach a unanimous verdict on each of the six counts or notify the court of a deadlock.
All parties, including the prosecution, defense counsel, and the defendant, remain on standby to return to the courtroom once a verdict is reached.
The Source: This report is based on official court proceedings in Los Angeles County Superior Court, trial transcripts, and closing arguments delivered by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the defense team. Factual details concerning the incident draw from California Highway Patrol crash reconstruction data, vehicle telemetry recordings, medical examiner findings, and direct eyewitness testimony presented throughout the trial. City News Service and the Associated Press contributed.