Closing arguments expected in Sarah Boone suitcase murder case

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sarah Boone’s murder trial will continue FridayA Florida woman is accused of murdering her boyfriend after killing him inside a zippered suitcase during an apparently drunken game of hide-and-seek.

boone(47) is charged with second-degree murder and accused of leaving her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., 42, to die by asphyxiation in 2020.

wrapped in defense on Thursday and closing arguments are expected to be held on Friday. Boone pleaded not guilty.

Earlier this week, Boone took the stand in his own defense. On Wednesday, a day after Boone testified, his attorneys called for others to testify.

Lawyers on both sides spent a good deal of time Thursday morning arguing over whether an expert’s testimony had been previously released.

The state began its rebuttal on Thursday. State Psychiatrist Dr. Tonia Werner said Boone had a “hard time” remembering the details leading up to Torres’ death and added that Boone did not provide enough information to diagnose him with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“My feeling was that he did not give me enough information to evaluate him during my time in prison,” Werner said.

Boone’s attorney, James Owens, said he thought there was a discovery violation. The judge ordered the jury to be removed from the courtroom so that they could deliberate privately whether a violation had occurred.

On Thursday afternoon, Boone’s attorneys exhibited body camera footage showing police officers’ interactions with Boone at the apartment complex before her boyfriend’s death in 2019.

“He’s sitting on the curb in front of that white car,” one lawyer said. Boone told the responding officer that Torres was abusive towards him and that he feared he was going to kill him. The officer was then seen taking Torres into custody.”

(STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

(TIMELINE: Where are things going for Sarah Boone, the Florida woman accused of suitcase death?)

Pearl Walker, a former neighbor, said Wednesday that she sometimes noticed marks on Boone’s neck or arm.

Walker said he would see Boone walking his dogs and talk to him, mentioning that Boone had also been abused.

Boone’s attorneys claim that Boone suffers from battered spouse syndrome.

Boone claimed on the stand that he was afraid of how Torres would act when he got out of the suitcase, so he didn’t take her out.

Licensed psychologist with 22 years of experience, Dr. Julie Harper was also called to the stand.

Harper said she did her dissertation on couple relationships and reviewed Boone’s records before interviewing him.

“Do you think Sarah Boone has some narcissistic traits?” asked Harper.

“Yes,” he replied.

On Tuesday, Boone testified that Torres entered the bag himself and was trying to pull himself together, so he didn’t realize she was there.

“He was roughly 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed about 100 pounds,” Boone said. “I just kind of zipped it up. We thought it was funny. We were joking that it was small enough to fit in a suitcase.

At one point, he said, he zipped the bag shut.

“He just thought it was funny,” he said. “From there I moved it around on the wheels a few times and it was still funny at that point. We were joking and laughing.”

He said he moved the suitcase and the zippered side was facing down.

Admitting that he was drunk, he said, “That’s when I decided to videotape the joke so he could see that I felt safe right now and that I could talk to you the way I normally would.”

Boone’s attorney said, “Can you tell the jury what you feel, what your emotions are, can you explain to the jury, you said that before you entered that confined space.”

“For the most part, I want you to know that I am and have always been afraid,” Boon replied. “I just wanted him to understand that that was the point of the video.”

The state resumed its case early Tuesday, a day after video of Boone being interrogated by authorities was shown to jurors.

“He begs you to take him out and you laugh at first, then say ‘No,'” a detective said in the video.

“It wasn’t intentional,” Boone replied. “I will put my hand on the Bible. “It wasn’t intentional.”

Assistant State’s Attorney William Jay gave the prosecution’s opening statement, saying: “He did this with malicious intent to punish her, and then he fell asleep and left her to take her last breath alone on this Earth.”

He also talked about Boone’s 911 call the next day.

“What you won’t hear are the tears. (…) You will not be sad,” Jay said.

Prosecutors said Boone had no respect for Torres’ life, but his attorneys claimed Boone was a victim of battered spouse syndrome and locked Torres in a suitcase because of prior abuse.

The state said Boone made no mention of self-defense when he was first questioned by authorities.

Closing arguments of the hearing are planned to be made on Friday.

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