Deadly Spring High School stabbing case goes to jury

Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Jury begins deliberating in school stabbing trial
Luis Alfaro was found guilty Friday of manslaughter in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Joshua Broussard

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Jurors have wrapped up their first day of deliberations in the trial of a teen accused in the deadly stabbing at Spring High School last year.

Luis Alfaro is accused of killing 17-year-old Joshua Broussard. Prosecutors say it was murder, but Alfaro's attorneys say it was self-defense.

Closing arguments lasted about an hour and a half. Prosecutors and the defense agree with one teen dead and another facing prison, there are no winners in this case.

Prosecutors argued that Alfaro's defense over the course of trial has gone from self-defense to 'I didn't do it.' They say he was covered in Joshua Broussard's blood and told jurors he knows what he did wrong and was waiting on them to tell him.

The defense pointed to video of that gang fight as its star witness, saying it proves Alfaro did not stab Joshua Broussard to death. They told jurors that if Alfaro is wrongfully convicted, Broussard does not get justice.

"If you have proof that Luis Alfaro killed Joshua Broussard, you do not parade in witness after witness that didn't see what happened or didn't collect any evidence," defense attorney Milan Marinkovich said.

Prosecutor Kelli Johnson countered the statement.

"The brave young students who came in to testify have no reason to lie," she said.

The jury began deliberating around 11am. They'll return to the courthouse at 9:30am Friday to continue.

Jurors have three options to consider: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty of either.