Jurors in Pike County will begin deliberations Wednesday morning in George Wagner IV's murder trial. The jury will return to the courtroom at 8:30 a.m. to begin deliberations.Prosecutors spent the last two-and-a-half months trying to prove Wagner is guilty of murdering eight members of the Rhoden family in April 2016. It's a verdict prosecutor Andy Wilson told jurors during closing arguments they can reach even if they don't believe Wagner pulled the trigger."If you're firmly convinced that he aided, abetted, assisted his family in these crimes, participated in these crimes, then he's guilty," Wilson said during closing arguments. Defense attorney John Parker tried distancing Wagner from his brother, Jake Wagner, and mother, Angela Wagner. They both pleaded guilty in this case."Jake and Angela have destroyed this man's life," Parker said. They both testified against George Wagner."They're liars. They're con artists. They're thieves," Parker said. Parker said Jake and Angela Wagner took the stand solely for their own benefit and asked jurors to revisit their testimony."What about Jake when he was up here laughing and smiling and smirking as he's talking about these murders? He's cult-like. I think he's psychotic. He's a sick man. You can't believe what that guy says, and Angela's not a lot better" Parker said. "She sold her testimony. She's a con artist. She's a liar, and she pulled another one, because nothing she said about George can be verified. Nothing."Wilson disagreed."Their statements and their testimony show that everybody in the family was acting under the same collective intent and that everybody participated in the murders and that everybody is guilty," Wilson said.George Wagner was indicted on 22 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder.
Jurors in Pike County will begin deliberations Wednesday morning in George Wagner IV's murder trial.
The jury will return to the courtroom at 8:30 a.m. to begin deliberations.
Prosecutors spent the last two-and-a-half months trying to prove Wagner is guilty of murdering eight members of the Rhoden family in April 2016.
It's a verdict prosecutor Andy Wilson told jurors during closing arguments they can reach even if they don't believe Wagner pulled the trigger.
"If you're firmly convinced that he aided, abetted, assisted his family in these crimes, participated in these crimes, then he's guilty," Wilson said during closing arguments.
Defense attorney John Parker tried distancing Wagner from his brother, Jake Wagner, and mother, Angela Wagner. They both pleaded guilty in this case.
"Jake and Angela have destroyed this man's life," Parker said.
They both testified against George Wagner.
"They're liars. They're con artists. They're thieves," Parker said.
Parker said Jake and Angela Wagner took the stand solely for their own benefit and asked jurors to revisit their testimony.
"What about Jake when he was up here laughing and smiling and smirking as he's talking about these murders? He's cult-like. I think he's psychotic. He's a sick man. You can't believe what that guy says, and Angela's not a lot better" Parker said. "She sold her testimony. She's a con artist. She's a liar, and she pulled another one, because nothing she said about George can be verified. Nothing."
Wilson disagreed.
"Their statements and their testimony show that everybody in the family was acting under the same collective intent and that everybody participated in the murders and that everybody is guilty," Wilson said.
George Wagner was indicted on 22 counts including eight counts of aggravated murder.
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