SAN DIEGO — Closing arguments began Tuesday in the McStay family murder trial. Charles Merritt, a former associate of Joseph McStay, has been charged with killing the Fallbrook family.
Both sides rested their case last week without Merritt testifying.
During Tuesday’s closing arguments, the prosecution went first – spending hours going over what they say proves Merritt is guilty.
Since the trial began in January, prosecutors have been trying to answer: How does a family of four disappear off the face of the Earth?
Prosecutors reminded jurors about the gruesome murders of Joseph Mcstay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons back in 2010.
It is believed all four of them were bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer inside their Fallbrook home. Their bodies were found three years later in shallow graves in the Mojave Desert.
“It was blow after blow after blow to a child’s skull – a three-year-old and a four-year-old. That is an intentional killing,” said the prosecution.
Chase Merritt was the former business partner of the Joseph McStay. Prosecutors allege he killed the McStay family over money.
“That greed and self-interest motivated a man to kill a family of four and take them from this Earth,” said the prosecution.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented evidence including cellphone data, putting Merritt in the area where the bodies were discovered, as well as grainy surveillance footage of a truck resembling Merritt’s near the McStay's Fallbrook home the night they went missing.
The defense meanwhile, argues there is no sufficient evidence. For starters, no blood was ever found in the McStay’s home. The defense claims officials have the wrong guy – something they pointed to on day one of the trial.
“They predetermined he is the guy but stopped when they had other avenues to go. We have conclusive proof that Chase Merritt has nothing to do with this,” said the defense.
Closing arguments will continue Wednesday. If convicted, Merritt faces the death penalty.