By THE FREE PRESS
RALEIGH — Wake County prosecutors rested their case Thursday against Grant Hayes in the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend, Laura Ackerson.
Pablo Trinidad, a convicted cocaine dealer, assumed the witness stand Thursday morning continuing his testimony from Wednesday, in which he said Hayes confessed the murder to him while they were imprisoned together.
Defense counsel engaged in a heated exchange with Trinidad about whether he’s doing what he needs to get years off his lengthy sentence, but Trinidad said he’s guaranteed nothing. State prosecutors typically do not cut deals with prisoners, but prisoners, including Trinidad, have testified in the hope of reduced sentences.
Trinidad also said Hayes’ hands were damaged from years of performing music and the defense maintains Hayes didn’t have the strength to strangle Ackerson, which Trinidad says he did, along with his wife, Amanda.
Later in the day, prosecutors played one of Hayes’ songs to the jury, in which he sings about killing his “babies’ mama.”
After the prosecution rested, the defense kicked off its case Thursday afternoon by putting Amanda Hayes’ sister Karen Berry on the stand.
Berry said Amanda Hayes told her she had hurt Ackerson “really bad.” But later, Berry said Amanda Hayes nodded her head, indicating yes, when Berry asked if she was covering for Grant.
The Hayes dumped Ackerson’s body in the creek next to Berry’s East Texas home.
Berry will take the stand this morning to finish her testimony. It is expected that the case could go to the jury late this morning or early this afternoon following closing statements from the prosecution and defense.