Jury deliberates over Kaufman verdict
A Tennessee jury on Monday began deliberating the fate of the two men charged with first-degree murder in the December 2020 shooting death of Butler County native Caitlyn Kaufman, and are continuing to deliberate Tuesday.
The trial of DeVaunte Hill, 23, and James Cowan, 29, both of Tennessee, began Jan. 23 in Davidson County Court in Nashville, and testimony concluded Saturday. Prosecutors and defense attorneys made closing arguments Monday before Judge Angelita Dalton instructed the jury. The jury began deliberating around lunchtime.
Kaufman, 26, of Chicora was found dead Dec. 3, 2020, of a single gunshot wound in her Mazda SUV along the shoulder of Interstate 440 in Nashville. She was driving to work at St. Thomas West Hospital, where she was an intensive care nurse. Authorities believe the shooting occurred at 6:08 p.m. Police discovered Kaufman about two and a half-hours later. Police found six bullet holes in her vehicle.
Testimony concluded Saturday after Hill testified that Kaufman cut him off, along with Cowan, Cowan hit the brakes and he fired at her SUV with a Springfield 9 mm pistol.
