Opening arguments presented at penalty trial for murderer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Prosecutors say the murder of a 10-year-old Kansas City, Kan., girl was so heinous that the man who admitted killing her should be sentenced to death.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys presented their opening arguments Monday in the penalty trial for Keith D. Nelson. A jury of eight women and four men must decide whether he dies or spends the rest of his life in prison for kidnapping and killing Pamela Butler in October 1999.

Presentation of evidence -- including testimony from almost 50 witnesses -- is expected to take six days.

Nelson's attorneys told jurors their client was neglected and abused as a child. He also has two brothers who suffer from schizophrenia, one of whom is in prison for murder.

But prosecutors said they will show that Pamela's killing was premeditated, especially cruel and committed on a particularly vulnerable victim.

Last week, defense lawyers failed to persuade U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan to throw out the jury and move the trial outside of western Missouri.

Nelson, 26, pleaded guilty Oct. 25 to kidnapping Pamela from outside her home, taking her to Grain Valley, Mo., and strangling her with speaker wire. In return for his plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a second count alleging that he sexually assaulted the girl.

The penalty trial has been slow to start because Nelson attempted suicide three days after his plea. After a hearing and a flurry of defense and prosecution motions, Gaitan ruled that Nelson was competent for the trial to continue.

Jurors will hear evidence in two broad categories. Prosecutors will present aggravating evidence, intended to suggest that the death penalty is warranted. Defense lawyers will present mitigating evidence, intended to suggest that life in prison is appropriate.

Family members of both Pamela and Nelson are expected to testify.