State v. Nelson

OPINION

BRUTINEL, Justice.

¶ 1 In 2009, a jury found Brad Lee Nelson guilty of first-degree murder of his niece, Amber, and determined he should be sentenced to death. We have jurisdiction over this automatic appeal under Article 6, Section 5(3) of the Arizona Constitution and AR.S. §§ 13-4031 and -4033(A)(1) (2010). 1

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 2

¶ 2 In June 2006, Nelson was caring for fourteen-year and ten-month old, Amber, and thirteen-year-old, Wade, at a motel in King-man, Arizona, while the children’s mother, Nelson’s half-sister, was in the hospital. On the day of the murder,…