Deliberations continue in sentencing phase of murder trial for Anniston man

A Calhoun county jury is deliberating whether to recommend the death penalty for an Anniston man they found guilty of capital murder last week in the murder of a Calhoun county elementary school teacher..  The same jury found Nicholas Smith guilty of capital murder in the death of Wellborn Elementary School teacher Kevin Thompson. Last Tuesday.  Smith is the first of three suspects to go on trial for the crime.  In closing arguments in the penalty phase of the trial Tuesday,  Calhoun County District Attorney Brian Mcveigh asked the jury to consider that Thompson was stabbed and his throat was cut.   Defense attorneys meanwhile asked jurors to consider Smith's childhood, which included physical and sexual abuse.  The jury deliberated for several hours Tuesday afternoon and will resume their deliberations at 9 this morning