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UPDATE: Boone County jury deliberating after emotional closing arguments in Elledge murder trial

Joseph Elledge
Joseph Elledge is charged with first degree murder

A jury in Boone County heard intense closing arguments Thursday morning in Joseph Elledge’s Columbia murder trial. Jury deliberations are now underway.

Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight told the jury that Elledge lied several times on the witness stand this week, and says Elledge tortured his wife Menggi Ji. Knight says Elledge deserves no mercy, calling him “a bully and killer.”

Elledge is charged with first degree murder, in the case.

Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum says Knight has no real evidence, and accuses the prosecutor of making mischaracterizations in court. Rosenblum says the evidence shows that Ji died from subdural hematoma from hitting her hear on a kitchen countertop during an argument.

Rosenblum says Elledge told the truth on the stand, and that Elledge panicked after his wife died.

The courtroom is packed with spectators and family members from both sides.

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