Jurors in the Nixzmary Brown murder case Friday asked to review some of the forensic evidence presented during the trial.
During the second day of deliberations, jurors reviewed evidence in the case against Cesar Rodriguez. Rodriguez is accused of killing his 7-year-old stepdaughter. He faces 12 charges, including murder in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.
The jurors asked to review the testimony of medical experts, photographs and Rodriguez's statements. They also requested the definition of murder in the second degree. They then immediately asked to continue deliberations.
Throughout the 11-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence of long-term abuse that they said led to Brown's death. The defense, however, brought in a medical examiner who testified it was one blow to the head that killed Brown. Defense attorneys also claimed that fatal blow was dealt by the child's mother, Nixzaliz Santiago.
Attorneys for the prosecution and defense felt the juror's requests were a good sign for a fair verdict, which could come as soon as Monday.
"I am optimistic by the fact that they are asking for a review of the evidence. It's been 12 weeks. It's a lot of evidence, and it's a very important decision that they have to make," says prosecuting attorney Ama Dwimoh.
Santiago is set to face her own trial once a verdict is reached in Rodriguez's case.
Jurybegins deliberations in Nixzmary Brown caseClosingarguments heard in Nixzmary murder trial