ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- September 24 marked a fourth day in the murder trial of Nicholas Stanley.

Stanley himself took the stand. He confessed to ABC57's Annie Kate to killing convicted sex offender Allen Cogswell in summer 2025. 

The defense made its case arguing "sudden heat", a legal threshold the state requires that could lessen a murder conviction.

Stanley testified he intended to beat up Cogswell, not kill him. He said that when he saw Cogswell through a crack in the window where he was staying, his "brain blew up," and his hatred and rage toward the man became overwhelming. He said that he then got the murder weapon from his vehicle and confronted Cogswell, ultimately killing him.

While the defense was unable to bring Cogswell's former conviction into trial, defense attorney Vincent Campiti still informed the jury of Cogswell's former abuse through other testimony of the day. Other people that took the stand included Stanley's sister, ex-wife, and the younger relative abused by Cogswell.

After the defense rested its case, it had to argue to Elkhart Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno on the merits of the sudden heat argument.

Christofeno ultimately sided with Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker and will not allow the jury to consider sudden heat. He said he didn't find Stanley's escalation to be "sudden in any way."

A shocked and outraged Campiti asked that closing arguments be pushed to the morning of September 25.