UPDATED: McCafferty Trial Continues Toward Jury Deliberation in Hardin County

**Updated: As of around 4pm today, 02/05/26, the jury is currently deliberating.**

The trial of Andrew McCafferty in Hardin County is nearing its conclusion. After both the defense and prosecution rested their cases, the State delivered its first closing statement this morning.

McCafferty, a Mount Victory man, is facing charges of aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and two counts of tampering with evidence.

He is accused of stabbing James Collins to death in Mount Victory on October 1, 2025.

Prosecutor Brad Bailey told the jury there is no denying that it was McCafferty who stabbed James Collins to death.

He said McCafferty was in a fit of rage after he found out his live-in girlfriend was with Collins.

As to self-defense, Bailey told the jury, and was also instructed by Judge Steve Christopher, that the State must prove one of five standards to show the act was not in self-defense.

He said the State has proved four of the standards to show the defense cannot be used in this case.

One of those, Bailey said, was the force used unreasonable, or was it in proportion to a threat.

He said the extent of injuries on Collins’ body shows the force was unreasonable.

He told the jury Collins was stabbed multiple times, including one deep, upward cut in the body that impacted five internal organs including the heart.

Bailey asked the jury to decide the case on the evidence presented during the trial, and he asked them to reject the self-defense claim and to return verdicts on all counts.

Defense attorney Joel Spitzer will give his closing statement this afternoon, and the case will then be in the hands of the jury.