Colin Hayes

We were mostly concerned about how do we prove that he is the one who did this, not somebody else. We had proved that he saw her, that they communicated, that he picked her up and that he drove to Larch Mountain where her body was found. So we could prove this case, but it was going to take a big leap from the jury to accept that he did this and nobody else did it.

We were mostly concerned about how do we prove that he is the one who did this, not somebody else. We had proved that he saw her, that they communicated, that he picked her up and that he drove to Larch Mountain where her body was found. So we could prove this case, but it was going to take a big leap from the jury to accept that he did this and nobody else did it.

When they said self-defense, it became a completely different case.

When they said self-defense, it became a completely different case.

It hit at the right time where there has been a history of cases of trans victims not being handled appropriately or ending in what people view as a just result. And so we definitely felt that kind of pressure. But I don't think either of us anticipated that it would become like we were seeing like People magazine articles.

It hit at the right time where there has been a history of cases of trans victims not being handled appropriately or ending in what people view as a just result. And so we definitely felt that kind of pressure. But I don't think either of us anticipated that it would become like we were seeing like People magazine articles.

It was definitely more pressure than one would want for their first murder trial.

It was definitely more pressure than one would want for their first murder trial.

there was no way they were gonna prove self-defense without him taking the stand. I think we felt good, but we had no idea it was coming. So it was really hard.

there was no way they were gonna prove self-defense without him taking the stand. I think we felt good, but we had no idea it was coming. So it was really hard.

Because he reacted physically, she then threatened him or was fighting with him physically. He perceived that she was reaching for his gun, which was in grabbing range. And the only alternative for him to make sure that she didn't reach the gun was to try and restrain her with this phone cord and that the phone cord just slipped up and strangled her.

Because he reacted physically, she then threatened him or was fighting with him physically. He perceived that she was reaching for his gun, which was in grabbing range. And the only alternative for him to make sure that she didn't reach the gun was to try and restrain her with this phone cord and that the phone cord just slipped up and strangled her.

The way that the hyoid bone was located in the extensions that were attached to the phone cord that indicated that that phone cord had been tied around her hair and her neck at the time that the body was disposed of. And it was knotted in a circle, and I think it was about 10 centimeters, which is an incredibly small circle to fit around someone's neck.

The way that the hyoid bone was located in the extensions that were attached to the phone cord that indicated that that phone cord had been tied around her hair and her neck at the time that the body was disposed of. And it was knotted in a circle, and I think it was about 10 centimeters, which is an incredibly small circle to fit around someone's neck.

My goal in going in was to shut that down. He didn't try to call the cops. He didn't try to call a medical. He didn't try to do anything. He just kind of throws her in the back of the car. So he showed extreme disregard for her as a human, even in his own testimony. I saw that the jurors were tracking along with me at that point. So I think they saw that as well.

My goal in going in was to shut that down. He didn't try to call the cops. He didn't try to call a medical. He didn't try to do anything. He just kind of throws her in the back of the car. So he showed extreme disregard for her as a human, even in his own testimony. I saw that the jurors were tracking along with me at that point. So I think they saw that as well.

What we both noticed automatically is that the only time he got emotional was when he was talking about his like reputation and how he would be personally affected if people found out that he had been with someone who is trans. It wasn't when he was talking about the actual event of killing Nikki. It wasn't when he was talking about when he felt threatened.

What we both noticed automatically is that the only time he got emotional was when he was talking about his like reputation and how he would be personally affected if people found out that he had been with someone who is trans. It wasn't when he was talking about the actual event of killing Nikki. It wasn't when he was talking about when he felt threatened.

He didn't show any remorse, even in his telling of the event.

He didn't show any remorse, even in his telling of the event.