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Lawyers to make closing arguments in McFarland case

Defense rests its case in Silverton courtroom

Lawyers are expected to make closing arguments at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the trial of Michael McFarland, who stands accused of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Jessica McFarland.

In Silverton, the trial has proved uniquely painful for a town with a year-round population of just 660 residents, many of whom remember Jessica as a girl and Michael as a boy.

Seating a jury in Silverton proved difficult: All but one of the 80 people who showed up to court last week for jury selection said they had prior knowledge of the case, and the majority of the potential jury pool admitted to personally knowing not only Michael, Jessica or both – but also many of the people on the witness list, too.

The trial began April 13 at the San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton, and was initially scheduled to continue all through this week, with jury deliberations expected to begin Friday.

According to Mark Esper, editor of the Silverton Standard & the Miner, the state rested its case against Michael McFarland after calling about a dozen witnesses to testify for the prosecution during the course of four days.

Barely hours after the prosecution rested Monday, the defense also rested its case, with Joel Fry, Michael McFarland’s attorney, calling just one witness: his father, Keith McFarland.

cmcallister@durangoherald.com

Apr 23, 2015
Michael McFarland convicted in Silverton manslaughter trial


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