Astorga murder case nears final act

Sentencing hearing moves to closing arguments

Updated: Friday, 11 May 2012, 6:07 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 11 May 2012, 6:07 PM MDT

Dianne Anderson

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The prosecution and defense in the Michael Astorga murder trial both rested their cases Friday in the cop killer's life-or-death sentencing hearing.

Closing arguments are set for Monday morning, and then the Santa Fe jury starts deciding if he should die.

If jurors cannot reach a unanimous decision on a death sentence, Astorga would be sentenced to life in prison.

Last year a separate jury convicted Astorga of murdering Bernalillo County Deputy James McGrane Jr. by shooting him in the face during a 2006 traffic stop near Tijeras.

Eleven women and one man make up the jury.

The sentencing phase of the trial was moved to Santa Fe from Albuquerque due to the news coverage the crime and main trial received.

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