HOUSTON – Closing arguments are underway in the trial of a woman who is accused of biting off her sister's nose during an argument.
Houston police said Lluvia Paloma Rodriguez, 29, got into an argument with her husband after the couple and her sister, Ivon Rodriguez, spent the night of July 14 out partying at clubs. Detectives said Ivon Rodriguez tried to intervene in the argument and Lluvia Rodriguez bit her nose off.
Ivon Rodriguez was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital, where doctors were able to reattach her nose and save it. Ivon Rodriguez appeared on the witness stand Monday to testify against her sister. Her nose showed scars from the surgery performed to reconstruct her nose.
Lluvia Rodriguez was arrested in July and charged with aggravated assault of a family member. She remains in the Harris County Jail.
Prosecuting Attorney Beth Exley on Monday said Lluvia Rodriguez was "acting like a mean angry drunk," while Prosecuting Attorney Adam Brodrick described the incident as a "vicious animal-like attack."
But Defense Attorney Carlos Rodriguez called it "a case of self defense," saying that Lluvia believed that she was going to die during the fight with Ivon.
If convicted, Lluvia Rodriguez faces two to twenty years in prison.