ORLANDO, Fla. — A jury found the Orange County man accused of killing his fiancée guilty of first-degree murder Friday afternoon after nearly four hours of deliberations.
Closing arguments began Friday morning in the trial John DeJesus, who was accused of killing his fiancée and blaming her death on home invaders.
Investigators said he shot and killed Yoliz DeJesus Borrero, 22, in the couple's home last year in front of their child.
The sentencing phase of the trial began shortly after the verdict was read. DeJesus was sentenced to life in prison without parole and is not allowed to have contact with his young daughter.
He winked at the victim’s family and briefly spoke to them in Spanish after he was sentenced.
Prosecutors spent more than an hour summing up their arguments, highlighting what they called DeJesus’ inconsistent statements to investigators.
DeJesus told deputies he could see the shooter’s face, but later said he couldn’t.
Prosecutors used those inconsistencies to try to convince a jury that DeJesus was the only person who could have killed his fiancée.
“All of the sudden, the gun went off and the guy was shocked that he has shot his wife,” said prosecutor Kelly Hicks. “And that was one lucky shot because of course it hit her right in the head.”
Defense attorneys maintained that their client is innocent and that three home invaders remain at large.
“DeJesus was probably totally freaked out. He's got people shooting at him through the front door,” defense attorney Ken Gallagher said. “He's got a dying fiancée in the back. He’s got a 4-month-old newborn baby to deal with. He's got a 4-year-old he is worried about.”
The victim’s father, William DeJesus, who is not related to the suspect, said during testimony Wednesday that his daughter would sometimes call him crying during the couple’s arguments.
He said at one point, the suspect said he might kill her one day.
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