Closing statements paint final picture in Donald Anthony murder trial

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - The fate of accused murderer Donald Anthony is in the hands of the jury.

The jury got the case around 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Donald Anthony, 34, is charged with first degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.

Earlier Friday, the prosecution and defense got to present their case to the jury one final time. The prosecution made the case that Anthony killed Said Farah because of disrespect, and so Anthony could protect his reputation. A Grand Island Police investigator told the court that Anthony had claimed gang affiliation to the Latin Kings

The defense said Anthony was acting in self defense.

The prosecution also laid out for the jury the injuries Farah sustained, that ultimately caused his death. They stated Farah’s hood of his sweat shirt was cut along with neck muscles, and one of his jugular veins in his neck.

They emphasized to the jury how many times Anthony changed his story for the events of the morning of February 15. They said Anthony changed details of his story from how far he went in the fight, to where the knife came from.

The biggest point for the defense was from a security tape that had been shown as a piece of evidence on Thursday.

The video appears to show Anthony and his girlfriend at the time walking away from the apartment building where Farah’s body had been found. However, according to the defense, a silhouette or a shadow can be seen in a window of the apartment building near where Farah’s body was found on the 300 block of South Pine Street.

The defense said that silhouette or a shadow could have been the killer of Farah, and not Donald Anthony.

It was noted by the defense that Donald Anthony admits to fighting Farah on the morning of February 15, but it was previously noted in opening statements that the fighting was a result of Anthony perceiving a threat from Farah.

After a shorter closing statement than the prosecution, the defense rested, and the jury was sent to deliberate on what they have heard for the past four days.