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The closing arguments were being heard in the three-month long murder trial of Ernest Scherer III, a poker player accused of killing his parents in their Castlewood Country Club, California home back in March 2008.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Nieto told the jury they must find the defendant guilty.
"At various points of this trial, you have been within feet of a narcissistic, sociopathic killer," Nieto said. "Ernest Scherer III has no concern about anybody but himself. His entire explanation is a house of cards that is easily dismantled."
Scherer III is alleged to have killed his parents, Ernest Scherer Jr., 60, and Charlene Abendroth, 57, with a combination youth baseball bat and Turkish sword. He had incurred a large amount of gambling debt and authorities believed the motive was a $1 million-plus inheritance.
The closing arguments began Monday following a week hiatus.
"My grandmother has a saying: One too many coincidences is not a coincidence," Nieto said. "He wants you to believe him, he's telling you the truth but everyone else ... (is) all lying.
"The defendant thought he committed the perfect crime and no one was as smart as him."
Scherer III’s attorney, Richard Foxall, is expected to continue closing arguments Tuesday
He claims that there was zero evidence presented to demonstrate his client's guilt.
"There is no direct evidence putting Mr. Scherer at the scene of the crime," Foxall said. "Many if not all the exhibits in this case don't go to the central issue of this case. They didn't prove a thing about what happened because Ernest Scherer III did not kill his parents."
Nieto claims that the crime was personal in that Abendroth was struck with three times the amount of force. She and the defendant had regularly argued over his gambling.
"There is something very personal behind that," Nieto said. "Those injuries should not be overlooked both in the quality and quantity."
Nieto once again showed pictures of the beaten and bloodied bodies to the jury. He also slammed the baseball bat for effect.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
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