Defense: No Definitive Proof Cid Torrez Killed Wife, Dumped Body
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The jury deliberated for hours on Thursday in the trial of a man - Cid Torrez- accused of killing his estranged wife and dumping her body in the Everglades.
Unlike through most of his trial, Torrez looked very serious on Thursday with his hands together almost like he was praying.
Defense told the jury they are the checks and balances of the judicial system. They said that because his wife Vilet's body was never found there is no definitive proof of exactly what happened to her.
"There is nobody here. There is no murder weapon here. Can you really convict a man of homicide beyond a reasonable doubt under these circumstances," said Defense Attorney Richard Della Fera.
Prosecutors say they have plenty of evidence that Cid killed his wife.
"Don't reward him because we don't have her body in this case. If you find him not guilty, you're telling him 'you know what, good job! The state didn't have a body so he's not guilty,'" said Prosecutors Heather Henrickson.
With his fate hanging in the balance, Cid held his hands together and kept his eyes fixed on the jury. He has said he is innocent did not take the stand during his trial.
Just a day before, defense put up one witness - Cid's brother - who testified that the two drank two bottles of tequila the night police claim Vilet disappeared.
Before that, prosecutors presented witnesses to establish a motive for why they say Cid murdered Vilet - claiming he was controlling, jealous and possessive and that Vilet was moving on.
"Cid Torrez was jealous, possessive, manipulative, selfish and has an ego that doesn't even fit in this courthouse," said prosecutor Lanie Bandell.
One of Cid's friends, Carlos Prada, testified earlier in the trial that Cid had asked him repeatedly where the best place was to bury a body.
Pastor Rafael Nunez said Vilet called him after a violent encounter with Cid.
"He wouldn't let her out....He pushed her....and he tried to strangle her," Nunez testified.
Seven months after Vilet disappeared Daviana Gonzalez started dating Cid.
"He told me he was still married. His wife was missing and she took off without the kids," Gonzalez said.
"I asked him what he would do If she came back? I would give her the kids and move on," Gonzalez said Cid told her.
Prosecutors say when Vilet returned home from a date in the early morning hours of March 31, 2012, Cid confronted her and killed her. Police believe Vilet was put in the trunk Of Torrez's Jaguar after she was murdered and then driven to a remote area for burial.
The lead Miramar detective testified that Vilet's body would have fit in Torrez's car trunk.
"I asked one of our female officers that had the same height as the victim. I asked if she would help out or assist and they put her in the trunk of the Jaguar and she fit perfectly," said Det. Jonathan Zeller with Miramar Police.
The jury is expected to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Friday.