Jurors in the murder
trial of Jose Gonzalez are deliberating after weeks of evidence and testimony from dozens of
witnesses.
Gonzalez
is accused of running over FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo with her own ambulance in
March 2017. Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday in the Bronx Hall of Justice.
Gonzalez's
attorney told jurors they could not hold his client responsible for Yadira's death
because he was in a psychiatric-induced episode fueled by PCP. The
defense also told the jury that Gonzalez didn’t see Arroyo when he drove her
ambulance forward.
The
prosecution portrayed a different picture of Gonzales, saying he was a man who
knew exactly what he was doing on March 16, 2017, when he stole her city
ambulance and drove over her body twice at the intersection of White Plains
Road and Watson Avenue.
The
victim's
family and supporters were in the courtroom – exhausted after
six years of waiting
for this trial. They say Gonzalez's actions cost Arroyo
her life and that he should spend years in prison.
Gonzalez faces the top charge of felony murder in the
first degree and up to 25 years to life in prison. Deliberations
continue Wednesday.