:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2M6S4VZQDO4LPAWMZUYIMNEMGQ.jpg)
A jury now has the case in the murder trial of Guy Heinze, Jr.
Closing arguments in the case ended shortly after 12 p.m. Jurors began deliberations at 1:45 p.m.
Heinze, 26, is accused of killing his father, his uncle, his aunt, his cousins, and his cousin's boyfriend in August of 2009. A medical examiner testified all eight victims had been beaten to death.
For more than a week, jurors have heard prosecutors talk about how Heinze brutally beat his family to death after a crack binge. And while a clear motive was never established, prosecutors suggested that drugs and money could be the reasons behind the murders.
The defense fired back, bringing in experts who testified that it would be almost impossible for one man to beat eight people to death inside a single-wide trailer without someone trying to stop him.
They said more than one weapon had been used: a long pipe-like object, a knife, and possibly a hammer. The prosecution suggested the family had been beaten with the barrel of a shotgun. But no definite murder weapon was ever recovered.
Heinze has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He admits he had been on a crack binge the night of the murders, but he denies having anything to do with them. He says he came home after a night out to find his family dead. He called 911 to report the bodies.
Heinze faces the death penalty, if convicted.
Closing arguments in the case ended shortly after 12 p.m. Jurors began deliberations at 1:45 p.m.
Heinze, 26, is accused of killing his father, his uncle, his aunt, his cousins, and his cousin's boyfriend in August of 2009. A medical examiner testified all eight victims had been beaten to death.
For more than a week, jurors have heard prosecutors talk about how Heinze brutally beat his family to death after a crack binge. And while a clear motive was never established, prosecutors suggested that drugs and money could be the reasons behind the murders.
The defense fired back, bringing in experts who testified that it would be almost impossible for one man to beat eight people to death inside a single-wide trailer without someone trying to stop him.
They said more than one weapon had been used: a long pipe-like object, a knife, and possibly a hammer. The prosecution suggested the family had been beaten with the barrel of a shotgun. But no definite murder weapon was ever recovered.
Heinze has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He admits he had been on a crack binge the night of the murders, but he denies having anything to do with them. He says he came home after a night out to find his family dead. He called 911 to report the bodies.
Heinze faces the death penalty, if convicted.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/HJ3L3HBBJBH6PB5ZFB3SVGFXSU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4TQDXERT5VGORNZ4NQWXNO5H64.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/SKX4RKW645ERTATCLA4V2FVRKQ.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/5PIZRG7NYBAHDDABTG5BNVGO6Y.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/V7JDMMD6JJEEHIL6C7OSLV3ABU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7KCCG5WDVRNR3DLLVQPKMSFUNY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/CFXQ4S6ANUGUTFE7SJ3S6UCCII.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/MUBZAZTYFEUO6EKDNQ5CI35P4E.jpg)
Sign Up
