Impassioned closing arguments in Martinez murder trial

The fate of Christian Martinez is in the hands of the jury to decide, after the prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments Tuesday.

The jury deliberated for over five hours, but weren’t able to reach a verdict before being sequestered by Judge Gonzalo Garcia for the evening.

In his closing arguments, prosecutor Bill Prasher urged the jury to strongly consider the death penalty. Prasher said “We are here today because (Christian Martinez) took these women’s lives in the most brutal fashion,” and that Martinez would act violently in prison as well.

Defense attorney Jaime Gandara disagreed, saying “(Martinez) will never again be in the free world. That’s already done.” He also told the jury that Martinez wouldn’t be a threat to anyone in prison, and asked for the life sentence instead.

Martinez and Flores family members in the courtroom were emotional as the arguments were made. Martinez himself showed no reaction, only staring down at the desk in front of him.

The jury has the closing arguments and evidence presented during the trial to answer two questions: does Martinez pose a future threat of violence to society, and if so, are there sufficient mitigating circumstances to warrant a sentence of life imprisonment rather than a death sentence?

The jury found Martinez guilty on Friday of the 2011 stabbing murders of Jovana and Amalia Flores.

The jury will continue deliberating tomorrow morning.