Child killer's ex-wife takes the stand (Columbia, South Carolina)

Child killer's ex-wife takes the stand (Columbia, South Carolina)

Child Killer's Ex Wife Takes the Stand

Posted By: Jennifer Tomazic

Date last updated: 6/17/2009 9:08:30 AM

Columbia (WLTX) - Heart wrenching testimony and a glimpse into who Robert Northcutt is took center stage Tuesday in day two of his re-sentencing hearing.

Lexington County (WLTX) - Heart wrenching testimony and a glimpse into who Robert Northcutt is took center stage Tuesday in day two of his re-sentencing hearing.

He's the Lexington County man who killed his 4-month old baby, Breanna, in 2001.

The prosecution wrapped up it's case and the defense is expected to do the same Wednesday.
Northcutt was convicted in 2003 of the killing. He was then sentenced to death.

However, in 2007, the South Carolina Supreme Court threw out his sentence, saying, among other things, that prosecutors' final arguments were overzealous.

This week, a judge has heard arguments from prosecutors and rebuttals from defense attorney on whether Northcutt deserves to get the death penalty again.

The first to take the stand Tuesday was the infant's grandmother and Breanna's mother, Angie, followed.

"I didn't realize I had to cram her whole entire life into four months," she testified.

Painful memories now fill what was the happiest time of Angie's life. She says her daughter, Breanna, never caused her problems, only joy.

"That was my life," said Angie. "I lived for her."

She testified Tuesday that her ex-husband, Robert, reluctantly took care of their daughter until the day he told investigators he lost it, and broke her back over a crib, killing her instantly.
Angie recalled the last moments with her baby.

"I sat there for the longest time, holding her, talking to her and I felt like I was a failure," she said.

But that didn't break her love of children. In fact, she's raising another daughter now. Angie says she talks to her about her sister.

"And I'm not looking forward to explaining to my daughter what happened to her sister," said Angie.

After the prosecution wrapped up, the defense brought up USC Social Work Professor Arlene Bowers Andrews. She briefed Judge Jimmy Williams on Robert's childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

"We would expect a child in this situation to be highly anxious because they haven't had their needs met," said Bowers Andrews. "It's a primary predictor of later emotional problems in people and also behavior problems."

Despite his behavior problems, after interviewing friends, family, and Robert himself, Bowers Andrews says he did want to make a stable family life.

Wednesday, the defense is expected to wrap up their case.

At that point, it will be up to Judge Williams to decide whether or not Northcutt should be put to death.