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Jury deliberations underway in the murder trial of man accused of murdering a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the wounding of another.
James Boughton Jr. is on trial in Chesapeake, charged with first-degree murder in the January 2006 slaying of Morgan W. Young of Bountiful.
The 22-year-old defendant is also accused in the shooting of Joshua Heidbrink of Greeley, Colo. Heidbrink recovered and testified at Boughton's trial.
Closing arguments in a Chesapeake Virginia courtroom were completed today. The jury was given the case just before 5 p.m Eastern time.
The two missionaries were knocking on doors when they witnessed Boughton involved in a shooting; that's when Boughton allegedly opened fire on the missionaries.
Prosecutors argued that Boughton can't prove his alibi. He claims he was at a friend's house when the shooting took place. Nancy Parr, Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney, said, "[He was] standing there with this gun, pointing it at Morgan Young's head as he was on his knees."
But the defense says the evidence does not warrant a guilty verdict. Defense attorney Andrew Sacks said, "I have spoken about evidence, and you have heard the inconsistencies. They cannot be explained except that people are not telling the truth."
Young's family says he had a keen sense of humor. He was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Bountiful High School. He also completed a year at Weber State University prior to his mission.
The jury stopped deliberating for the night and plan to resume tomorrow morning.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
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