MIAMI – Closing arguments began Monday in the trial of a woman accused of killing the man she believed killed her husband.
Earlier in the morning, jurors heard the alleged confession that was made to an informant while the state laid out a timeline that led up to the fatal shooting that happened in 2008.
The prosecutor once again painted the picture of a woman who was trying to extract revenge for her husband's death.
Meanwhile, Janepsy Carballo never took the stand in her defense. However, her attorneys insisted she feared for her life when she shot and killed Ilan Nissim in her North Miami home, claiming Nissim attacked her.
"The shots are being pulled off in rapid fire, consistent with the fear of the attack being placed on Janepsy in her home," said attorney Nathan Diamond.
But prosecutors reminded jurors that Carballo told investigators that Nissam was behind the shooting death of her husband, Orlando Mesa. Authorities said the two had been involved in a real estate deal that went sour.
The state also maintains that a wiretap proves that Carballo killed Nissim solely for revenge, as do phone calls and text messages that Carballo allegedly made to Nissim.
"She killed the victim simply because she wanted to," said prosecutor Patricia Mulholland.
According to police, Mesa was gunned down outside his home by two men, about a month prior to Nissim's death. He was carrying his 1-year-old son at the time, who was grazed by a bullet.
Later in the afternoon jurors told the judge that they may not have a decision by the end of Monday, and asked if they could go home later if they weren't able to reach a decision. The judge agreed.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Carballo faces life in prison. The jury could come back with a lesser charge, including manslaughter.
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