Both the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments on Friday after three weeks of evidence and testimony in the jury trial of Aita Gurung.
Judge John Pacht said he anticipated sending the case to the jury for deliberation early next week.
The attorneys’ closing arguments echoed what jurors had already heard in the case, with much of the argument centered on whether or not Gurung was insane at the time of the attack.
Gurung is being tried on a charge of first-degree murder for killing his wife, Yogeswari Khadka, at their Burlington home in October 2017. Gurung is also charged with attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Thulsa Rimal, who was severely injured in the same incident. Gurung used a meat cleaver in the attack on both women.
State prosecutors told the jury Friday that the evidence shows Gurung was aware of his actions when he attacked his wife and mother-in-law.
“He did not lack the capacity due to a mental disease or defect to appreciate criminality,” Assistant Attorney General Sophie Stratton told the jury on Friday.
Gurung’s attorneys closed by relying heavily on his medical records and psychological evaluations, asking the jury to find him not guilty by reason of insanity. They said he was hearing voices and has a “serious psychotic disorder.”
“The state would have you gloss over the seriousness of Mr. Gurung’s disorder,” defense attorney Sandra Lee said.
The trial is set to resume on Monday.
— Patrick Crowley
