Now it's up for a jury to decide. The fate of two teenage brothers now hangs in the balance.
Jarrad and Jerry beard are accused of killing Justin Hesketh and Brandon Moore last December. An altercation near Polk and Herndon Avenues in Fresno led to a chase and eventually the shooting.
Police say the Beard brothers confessed. Defense attorneys argue their clients acted in self-defense.
The prosecution is refuting that claim. Forensics experts testified that the victims were shot multiple times at close range.
Eyewitnesses were brought to the stand but some gave conflicting testimony. There were also accusations of drug use by all four men, racial motivation (the Beards are African-American, the victims were white), and whether or not an attempt was made to flee.
Families for both the victims and the defendants packed the courthouse everyday of the trial. On the first day a juror had to be excused because one of the family members spoke to them during recess. There were other accusations of attempted, illegal coercion of witnesses.
Jurors begin deliberations Thursday. They can decide guilty or not guilty on the murder charges. They also can opt for lesser convictions of manslaughter.
TXT 24
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