Prosecutors Call Spader A 'Ruthless Killer' In NH Murder Trial
NASHUA, N.H. (CBS) - "This is what the defendant used to ambush that sleeping mother and child in their bed. It was cruel, it was brutal, it was painful it was relentless."
Prosecutor Peter Hinckley told jurors Steven Spader wanted to know what it was like to kill people when he and three friends broke into the home where Kimberly and Jaimie Cates were sleeping.
Kimberly's husband, Jaimie's father, David Cates was away on business that night.
He listened from the front row as Hinckley described a scene of unthinkable violence, saying Kimberly was stabbed and hacked more than 30 times. "Kimberly Cates was alive when she suffered each of those separate wounds. She was alive and trying to protect herself and her daughter with the only shield she had -- her body... She made a mother's sacrifice."
And a severely wounded Jaimie played dead until her attackers left.
Jurors briefly heard Jaimie's voice on a 911 recording, most of which was unintelligible.
The first officer to arrive at the house, Milford police sergeant Kevin Furlong broke down a door to get to Jaimie, who was drenched in blood. "I saw her and she was attempting to scream and yell but couldn't, she was shaking. I got close. She said in a whisper, I think my mommy is dead."
Spader listened without expression. His attorney Andrew Winters told jurors Spader's being set up by others involved in the crime who've already pleaded to lesser charges. "The witnesses you'll hear from, their stories won't add up."
