Sentencing handed down in Canebrake trial

Zachary Hughes, a South Carolina pianist, who admitted during his trial to killing Christina Parcell in her Greenville County home in 2021, has been sentenced to life in prison. On Thursday evening, Hughes was found guilty on multiple charges including murder.The judge sentenced to Hughes to life in prison for the murder and burglary charges. He was given an extra five years for possession of a deadly weapon and 60 days served for the two harassment charges.In the closing statements, the state argued that there was a lot of planning that went into the murder. The defense argued that although Hughes admitted to killing Parcell, he did not confess to any crime.Parcell, 41, was found dead on Oct. 13, 2021, in her home in the Canebrake neighborhood in Greer. The coroner said Parcell had multiple sharp force injuries.Zachary David Hughes, 29, is charged with murder in the case.He admitted killing Parcell during his trial on Wednesday.Hughes said on the day of the killing he traveled to Canebrake in his Ford pickup truck and took back roads to avoid traffic cameras until he got near the home.He said he rode his bicycle to the home and rang the doorbell while holding a gift-wrapped box of roses.”I told her that, while I was holding the box with the roses, that I had a delivery for Lutina Parcell, her sister,” Hughes said.He also said he had gloves, a gun, a knife, and paint thinner on him in addition to the roses.Hughes said once he realized Parcell was alone in the home, he said he pulled out the gun, which he said was unloaded, and ordered Parcell inside. He said she then fought for her life inside.”I just kept striking her and striking her until finally, we fell on the floor, and at this point, I had just tried to take my mind out of it and just try to get through this and finish it as quickly as possible,” Hughes said. According to the testimony, Hughes believed the killing was justified. He thought he did what he had to do to save an innocent child (Parcell’s daughter). Read more about that part of the trial here or watch in the video below: The jury found Hughes guilty of the following charges:MurderPossession of a weapon during a violent crimeFirst-degree burglarySecond-degree harassmentSecond-degree conspiracy to commit harassmentThe jury found Hughes not guilty of the following charges:First-degree harassmentFirst-degree conspiracy to commit harassmentFor more trial coverage, click on the links below: Click the links below for extended coverage of the case from WYFF News 4:October 2021: Parcell found dead Neighbors shocked to learn of her death Parcell’s fiancé, Bradley Post, accused of producing child sex material The man Parcell shared a child with, John Mellow, is arrestedNovember 2021: Zachary Hughes is charged with Parcell’s murder December 2021: Bradley Post faces more charges February 2022: Post and Parcell’s estate sued by mother of child who says couple took nude pictures of her minor child, lawsuit saysApril 2022: Hughes is denied bond September 2022: Court orders Hughes to hand over cellphone password October 2022: Court reveals new details about evidence on Hughes’ cellphone including how Mellow and Hughes knew each other September 2023: Hughes and Mellow accused of conspiring to send explicit and pornographic images of Parcell to numerous individuals and businesses in June 2021