At the outset of her remarks, Shapiro told jurors that criminal defense attorney Daniel Russo, who represents Williams, wanted them to believe his client’s actions were justified, that Nofuentes and Russell were child molesters.
Shapiro will begin her rebuttal afterward, Judge William J. Pendergast, who has presided over the five-week trial, will issue final jury instructions, and the jury will begin deliberations.
She also said Russell did not hit Williams as arguments and passions escalated outside the house, which Williams said that he did.
She conceded that Nofuentes, in his early 30s at the time of Russell’s death, was intoxicated after returning from a funeral reception for a friend.