Defense Rests In Gonzales Murder Case

EL PASO – Closing arguments will start at 9 a.m. Thursdayin the Francisco Gonzales murder trial.

Gonzales is accused of killing his landlady, 57-year-old Celia Rico, in 2006 and dumping her body in a canal.

Defense attorneys wrapped up their case on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, prosecutors entered Gonzales’ confession to police. An investigator with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office read it to the jury. In it, Gonzales reportedly explained the reason he killed Rico was because she threatened him if he did not give her prize money from a local casino.

By Kevin Pytcher