Closing arguments underway in trial of man accused of killing former KLAQ DJ

Closing arguments are underway in a packed courtroom for the murder trial of the man accused of killing a former KLAQ DJ.

Leonel Hernandez is accused of shooting and killing Richard Madrigal inside Madrigal’s apartment in 2016. The prosecution painted a picture of a jealous Hernandez killing Madrigal after Hernandez’s girlfriend spent the night at the former DJ’s apartment.

During its closing arguments, the prosecution told jurors the defense is “trying to sell you on this theory that there was a third-party shooter.”

Last week, the defense brought in Luis Aiken, a crime scene expert who reconstructed the shooting.

During his testimony, Aiken said the bullet’s path meant Hernandez could not have been the shooter.

The prosecution, during closing arguments, argued Aiken’s testimony was not credible. They showed the jury a statement from his testimony. During that time, the defense asked its witness about the calculations he used to determine where the bullet was.

Aiken replied, “I said those calculations could be done. I didn’t actually do them.”

The state told the jury Aiken never visited the crime scene and had missing information so his recreation was “all speculation.”

The defense pointed back to the recreation of the shooting and the crime scene. “The evidence shows and the signs show that Mr. Hernandez could not have killed Mr. Madrigal,” the defense told the jury.

The defense also recalled Marinda Palacios’ testimony.

At the time of the shooting, Palacios was married and dating Hernandez. She spent the night at Madrigal’s apartment the night before he was shot and killed.

“Marinda was bad news. She was trashy and a bad decision,” said the defense while showing photos of her kissing Madrigal the night before the murder, and showing photos of her with other men the night after the murder.

The defense also pointed out several text messages Palacios sent her daughter, her husband and her best friend several hours after the murder.

She texted her best friend, “I think we Leo killed rick.” The defense putting emphasis on the “we.”

It was reveled during testimony, Palacios went to a hotel after the murder and then went out drinking.

The defense told the jury, “Don’t let her manipulate you. You know she could have gotten help and she didn’t.”

Palacios testified she never called 911.