Jury mulling woman’s stabbing death in Erie

Jury mulling woman’s stabbing death in Erie

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Jurors were scheduled to continue deliberating the guilt or innocence of a man charged with fatally stabbing a woman who lived in the same apartment building where he resided.

Thirty-three-year-old James Duncan of Erie could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the June 2011 death of 27-year-old Nikkia Sawyer.

But first, jurors who began deliberating Tuesday must determine whether he’s guilty of first-degree murder. They mulled that question for several hours Tuesday and were to return to deliberate Wednesday.

The woman was stabbed 60 times and left bound and gagged on her bed.

Erie County prosecutors say DNA evidence links Duncan to the scene, but the defense says other DNA samples which could lead to other possible perpetrators were never analyzed.