William Minton nodded his head in court Friday afternoon as his defense attorney delivered closing statements in the man's murder trial.

Minton, 42, began trial Thursday on pre-meditated first-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated robbery in the 2008 death of Carlos McCuiston, 46, also known as Cotton Sandell.

As of press time Friday, jurors had not yet delivered a verdict on the case.
Prosecutors allege in the early morning hours of July 24, 2008, Minton strangled and beat McCuiston to death in McCuiston's sister's Memorial Street apartment in Dayton.

Minton was later found with several pieces of McCuiston's jewelry in his pocket.

On Thursday the jury heard testimony from McCuiston's nephew, Allen Smith, who said he found his uncle's body in a cast iron tub, covered in blood, with his wallet resting on top of his head.

Smith said when he ran into the apartment, he bumped into Minton, who allegedly said, "I killed the son of a bitch."

Defense attorney Larry Roddy questioned Smith's credibility and said Smith lied about what happened the night his uncle died in cloing statements Friday.

Jurors heard testimony Friday from Thaddeus Savage, a friend of Smith's. Savage claimed Smith later admitted to killing his uncle with a lamp.

Savage is currently in the Rhea County Jail. He was arrested in December for violating probation.
Roddy also called into question physical evidence from the night of McCuiston's death.

Prosecutors allege Minton stomped McCuiston's head with a pair of boots, but Roddy said no blood tracks were found in the apartment.

"Don't let these questions go unanswered," he told jurors.

"How did he get out of that bathroom after stomping somebody to death in a bathtub with tread like that and not leave tracks? Impossible."

Assistant District Attorney Jim Pope told jurors in closing statements, though, that the bloody evidence points to Minton.

"If you've ever seen the movie, 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' that's what it reminded me of," he said.
Pope said the evidence points to Minton and that Smith was incapable of bludgeoning his uncle in such a way.

"The murder was overkill," Pope said. "I submit to you that someone stomped this man's head in. What family member could kill somebody that way?"

After closing statements, Judge Thomas Graham was set to give instructions to the jury.

Following Graham's directions,  jurors took the case into deliberation.

Graham told jurors that they could deliberate well into the night and come back Saturday to continue, if need be.

Updates on the trial and any verdict the jury may reach will be posted on rheaheraldnews.com.