HOUSTON – Closing arguments were underway Tuesday at the trial of a woman accused of killing her husband nearly five years ago and staging a home invasion to cover it up.
The jury heard from three witnesses during the final day of testimony.
The judge then gave both prosecutors and defense attorneys for Sandra Melgar 45 minutes each to present their closings. The jury is then expected to begin deliberations.
The prosecution and defense each taking a swipe at the other side’s case.
“You saw all of the wounds to his head,” said assistant district attorney, Colleen Barnett. “Certainly that person intended to kill him. We've proven all of those things.”
“There's no physical evidence in this case that points to her at all,” said Mac Secrest, Melgar’s defense attorney.
Investigators said that relatives found the Melgars on Dec. 23, 2012, tied up in closets. Jamie Melgar had been stabbed, investigators said.
Sandra Melgar told investigators that she had blacked out and woke up in the closet, not knowing how she and her husband ended up there, according to police.
The prosecution graphically painted a picture from their case.
“While he isn't looking, she makes a strike at his neck,” said Barnett. “Jaime, of course, tries to defend himself and, gets hit on the thumb. That’s when the blood is splurting onto the chair.”
The defense argued there was shoddy detective work. Mac Secrest said the evidence was not there and that Sandra only had her DNA under (her) nails and that there was no bruising on her hands.
The jury ended their deliberations at 5:15 p.m. and they’re expected to resume their deliberations tomorrow morning.
