Judge Thomas Moran finished instructing the jury and wrapped up the Craig Rideout murder trial late this afternoon, telling the jury they’ll begin deliberations at 9:00 tomorrow (Wed) morning.
Closing arguments gave defense lawyers one more chance to argue the huge body of circumstantial evidence showed another of the four defendants did it…not their particular client. Laura Rideout’s lawyer says the items she and Tucci bought at Walmart that the prosecution says were used to clean up after the murder are also consistent with a couple of people packing up house and moving, which they were doing at the time Rideout was beaten to death in his Penfield town home. He also argued that Laura Rideout wouldn’t have the strength to strangle and beat her husband to death.
The other three defense attorneys similarly questioned the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence.
Assistant DA Tim Prosperi tried to convince the jury that all four collaborated in murdering Laura Rideout’s estranged husband and trying to conceal the evidence. Prosperi urged jurors to think scientifically and find the defendants guilty.