YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a six-day trial the jury delivered its verdict Tuesday in the murder trial of 54-year-old David Hackett of Youngstown.  

Hackett declined a public defender and chose to serve as his own defense.

The jury of six men and six women took two and a half hours of deliberations to deliver its verdict to Judge John Durkin. 

Hackett sat motionless at the defense table as the judge read the verdict.  Guilty on all counts;  aggravated murder, kidnapping, and rape.  

Hackett was charged with stabbing 30-year-old Collena Carpenter of Columbiana County more than 80 times in October of 20-13 and leaving her body in a vacant field near West Avenue in Youngstown.

The prosecution said that Carpenter had been living with Hackett and another woman and that she owed the defendant money for drugs.

 In his closing statement, Hackett said the prosecution had failed to meet the burden of proof.  "Conjecture isn't fact.  The state of Ohio's opinions isn't evidence or fact,  they are just that, conjecture," Hackett said to the jury. 
  
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa countered by saying it wasn't an opinion, it was the victim's blood, Hackett's DNA and phone records.

 "Every piece of physical evidence that came out, that we collected and we put together all pointed to him," said Cantalamessa.

Carpenters mother said she was grateful for all of the support she has received.  "I want to thank my family and everybody that has shown us so much love and support and all the prayers that came for us," Connie Carpenter said.

The prosecution says Hackett was on parole for murder at the time of this crime, and it will be recommending a sentence of life without parole. 

"He was on parole already for aggravated murder back in 1979 and aggravated robbery.  He has a long history of violence so we don't want him to get out," Cantalamessa said.

Connie Carpenter was pleased with that sentence recommendation. "At least no one else will be harmed by this individual ever again," she said.  
Hackett was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs and will be sentenced at a later date.