Shelby Nealy sentencing trial: Defense testimony resumes Wednesday in death penalty case
Shelby Nealy sentencing hearing
FOX 13's Kylie Jones shares how a defense witness urged the jury to spare Shelby Nealy's life on Wednesday.
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The defense continued with witness testimony on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, Nealy's attorneys called several law enforcement officers, from Florida to Ohio, to the stand.
These officers testified about previous incidents they responded to involving Nealy and Jamie.
The backstory:
One retired deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said she responded to a call in 2015, in which Jamie was threatening to hurt herself.
"She was out of control and uncooperative with me," Tammy Fox, a retired deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said, while reading her report from the incident.
Fox said she Baker-Acted Jamie as a result of that incident, because she felt that Jamie would be a harm to herself or others if she didn't get treatment.
Pictured: Jamie Ivancic.
"Baker-Acting someone isn't supposed to, right?" a state prosecutor said. 'No'. In fact, it's supposed to get them help, because they need some sort of mental health or psychiatric help, right? ‘Correct.’"
A sergeant with the Broadview Heights Police Department in Ohio also testified on Wednesday.
He said he was called to an incident involving Nealy and Jamie in 2016, where he heard the couple arguing.
"Do you have it noted in your report that he was telling her to calm down?" the defense said. "'He told me that later,'" Sgt. Dale Carlton said.
PREVIOUS: Man charged with first-degree murder in deaths of wife's family
The sergeant also told state prosecutors that, according to his report from the incident, Jamie said that she'd been beaten by Nealy for the last year.
"She also told you this night in particular, the one you responded, that they had been arguing, and she told the defendant, Shelby Nealy, that she was going to leave him," the state prosecutor said. "He got upset, then grabbed her and began to choke her? 'That's what she told me, yes.'"
Jamie's sister shared photos of Jamie after giving birth and a written statement.
"These photos show Jamie, a loving and joyful mother," Jamie's sister Karma said. "Despite the abuse she was going through at the time, she was overjoyed to become a mom."
On Wednesday, the defense also called one of Nealy's former attorneys to the stand.
Maria DeLiberato said she used to represent Nealy, and has stayed in close contact with him since.
"Do you feel that this is a friendship that's almost like he's become part of your family," the defense asked. "I think so, that's how I would describe it. Kind of like older sister, aunt maybe," DeLiberato said.
She said she speaks to Nealy about once a week to check in and make sure he's okay, while he's in prison.
"From your experience with him, is he capable of loving others?" the defense asked. "He absolutely is, and I have, both in my head and heart, grief for what he's done, and also know that he's more than the worst thing he's ever done," DeLiberato said.
The state pointed out that DeLiberato is also the Executive Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
"It's actually kind of a crusade of yours to stop Florida from executing murders, right?" state prosecutor Bryan Sarabia said. "That is true," DeLiberato said.
The state asked DeLiberato about her involvement with the organization.
"You get paid to protest or organize protests at different executions, correct?" a state prosecutor said. 'We don't do protests, no'. Okay, vigils? 'Prayer vigils, it's a prayer service'."
What's next:
The defense called more witnesses on Wednesday afternoon, and is expected to call its final witnesses Thursday morning.
The Source: This story was written using information from testimony at Shelby Nealy's sentencing trial in Pinellas County, Florida, with additional details from previous FOX 13 News reports.