Closing arguments today

The jurors in the ongoing jury trial of Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, James A. Santos, and Joaquina V. Santos could begin deliberations this afternoon, even as the closing arguments by the prosecution and defense lawyers are expected to drag on for several hours.

The courtroom in the U.S. District Court for the NMI in Garapan is expected to be jampacked starting at 8:30am, the beginning of the closing arguments.

Closing arguments occurs after the presentation of evidence or after the prosecution and the defense lawyers rest their cases.

During closing arguments, the counsels give concluding statements reiterating important arguments for the jury.

The trial of Villagomez and the Santos enters its 18th day today. The trial started with 18 jurors, including six alternate jurors. As of Tuesday, only 15 jurors were left, including three alternate jurors. The court would normally excuse the alternate jurors shortly before the start of closing arguments.

The prosecution generally opens the argument. After the defense lawyers’ arguments, the prosecution is usually then permitted a rebuttal.

In this case, when assistant U.S. attorney Eric O’Malley is done with his closing arguments, attorneys Victorino Torres, Ramon Quichocho, and David J. Lujan, counsel for James Santos, Joaquina Santos, and Villagomez respectively, will follow. It is not clear who among the defense lawyers will start presenting their arguments.

After the defense lawyers’ arguments, O’Malley will have another chance for rebuttal.

When the closing arguments are completed, the court will give the jury instructions. The jurors will then start deliberating the case.

The U.S. government rested its case on Tuesday after presenting 25 witnesses. The last was former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Anthony C. Guerrero.

The defense did not call any witness.

Villagomez and the Santoses are facing charges of conspiracy to defraud and to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, and bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds.

The defendants are accused of bilking the CNMI government out of thousands of dollars through business deals involving needless purchases for CUC of a de-scaling chemical called Rydlyme.