ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jury deliberations began Tuesday in the Patrick Brooks murder trial. One day later, the jurors reached a verdict.
Brooks was found guilty of murder in the second degree for killing his estranged wife Christie and his daughter Victoria in their Wellington Avenue home the day after Thanksgiving last year.
Deliberations followed closing arguments Tuesday morning when the jury asked to review evidence, including an aerial map and a bag recovered from a dumpster containing bloody items: One of those bloody items is the alleged murder weapon, a knife.
In a rare move, Judge Dinolfo allowed jurors to put on gloves and inspect the knife under supervision in the courtroom. The prosecution says the knife slipped out of Brooks' hand and cut his palm.
Prosecutor Bill Gargan believes the evidence linking Brooks to the crime was overwhelming.
“It is a collection of evidence that is so powerful, it provides a difficult avenue for acquittal. Because if you look dispassionately at that DNA evidence, it puts him at the scene,” Gargan said Tuesday.
Brooks is scheduled to be sentenced December 20th.