The family of 10-year-old Tammy Welch who was brutally murdered and raped more than 30 years ago spoke out during James Jackson's death penalty trial on Wednesday.
Jackson, 66, was found guilty of breaking into Welch's home on 103rd Street, raping then murdering her in 1984.
Her father, Michael Welch was on leave for the military at the time. He stood before jurors and made a statement.
Michael Welch said that all he has left is his imagination of his daughter and what could have been.
“I imagine Tammy’s first dance, that cute boyfriend, the one, her first kiss, the prom, maybe college...," he says. “Now all I can do is dream about Tammy, what could, would or should have become in her life, besides the greatest thing to me, my daughter. In a few days we’ll celebrate another holiday and I’ll stand and look at another empty seat for the 35th year.”
Tammy Welch's sister, Jennifer Roche, also made a statement, saying that she and her sister were only 15 months apart which made them very close.
“When the tragic day happened, I not only lost my sister, I lost a part of me, a part that I was unsure I would ever regain..," Roche said.“On August 27th, my life changed forever. Nothing in my life would ever be the same or could be because of the violent act of another man.”
Testimony was also heard from the defense, Jackson’s daughter and step-daughter. The two sisters grew up in the household together along with their older brother.
Both spoke about highly of their father; his jobs as handyman/painter, owner of a car wash, and reminisced on childhood memories. Things got emotional from his half-sister after opening up about seeing Jackson on trial.
"It breaks my heart to know a piece of me is sitting over there and I can’t take him home.”
One of the jurors in the trial was dismissed early Wednesday morning due to health concerns, leaving zero alternates left for the remainder of the sentencing.
Prosecutors and the defense also made statements in his case.
The state argued that the crime of sexual battery and murder of Tammy Welch is the definition of an aggravating murder and deserves the death penalty.
The defense, on the other hand, asked jurors to consider Jackson's life and the minimal amount of priors he had against him before this charge. They went on to say that Jackson suffers from dementia and ailments that will not heal.
Court is breaking for the evening but will begin again Thursday at 8:30 a.m. There are about two hours of testimony left.
Closing arguments could be around 10:30 a.m.
BACKGROUND:
Jackson was questioned by police at the time of the murder and in subsequent years but he wasn't arrested until 2013 after DNA test connected him to the crime.
Stay with First Coast News as this story develops.