GAINESVILLE - Jury deliberations are expected to begin Thursday in the trial of one of two remaining defendants in the murder and attempted robbery of a Gainesville cab driver earlier this year.
Testimony ended Wednesday in in the case of Misty Moran. Proceedings are scheduled to resume at 9:00 Thursday morning in Hall County Superior Court with closing arguments.
Court officials say the final defendant, Margarita Leanos, is now expected to go on trial Monday. A jury has already been chosen to hear that case.
Moran, Leanos and three others were arrested shortly after Tovar-Murillo, 46, Gainesville. was shot and killed during a robbery attempt, according to the Hall County Sheriff's Office. "Moran is our primary suspect for the actual shooting," spokeswoman Nicole Bailes said at the time of the arrests.
She said the incident happened at 4:50 a.m. March 16 in the area of Barrett Road and Dorsey Peek Road near the Jackson County line.
The other three suspects pleaded guilty in August and were sent to prison. John Justin Adams, Nicholas Allen Gonzalez, and Ignacio Mondragon each pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to committ armed robbery, and gang-related charges. Murder charges against each of them were dismissed.
Adams and Mondragon were each given 30-year sentences by Hall County Superior Court Judge Jason Deal, with 15 to serve in prison and the remainder on probation. Gonzalez was given a 25-year sentence, with 13 to be served behind bars and the rest on probation.
