Packed courtroom during closing arguments in death penalty trial of man who fatally shot Hollywood Police officer

Attorneys in a Broward County court room are delivering their closing arguments in a situation that will decide the fate of a -year-old man who shot and killed an on-duty Hollywood Police officer four years ago Monday morning on the eighth day of the death penalty phase in the episode against Jason Banegas both the prosecution and the defense present their closing arguments at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale Soon the jury must decide whether Banegas will receive the death penalty or life in prison Banegas was when police explained he shot Officer Yandy Chirino in the face during a struggle on Oct Officers were responding to reports of a suspicious person near North Hills Drive in Hollywood Chirino was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where he later died The -year-old had been with the Hollywood Police Department since Prosecutors mentioned that Banegas shot the officer twice He knew that carrying a gun and committing crimes was wrong prosecutors argued and that he knew he was taking the life of another human being He had a lousy childhood His mother certainly was not going to win mother of the year awards He came from a bad neighborhood prosecutor Stephen Zaccor announced during his closing arguments Remember this Mitigation neither excuses nor justifies the murder And I didn t even tell you that the defense group recounted you that Banegas pleaded guilty back in October as jury selection was underway for his trial Prosecutors explained Banegas changed his plea to guilty without a negotiated deal The defense announced life in prison without the opportunity or the possibility of parole should be the fair and just verdict here Lien Lafargue Banegas defense attorney stated her development to the jury on Monday Do we kill Jason Banegas Must we kill Jason Banegas Is that the only option that you have Absolutely not The law never requires you to kill she reported News cameras ascertained the courtroom packed with family members and friends on both sides of the event Banegas was charged with first-degree murder armed burglary battery on a law enforcement officer resisting arrest with violence grand theft of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm The defense rested last Thursday after Banegas sister testified The prosecution rested their situation on Thursday Dec The jury will be sequestered once they begin deliberations