STATES CLOSING ARGUMENT
READ FROM THE BOTTOM UP
Skrzynski: The evidence shows a story. It shows Young guilty of premeditated murder, felony murder, assault with intent to murder for Rose and Salvatore and of armed robbery.
by Gina Damron 3:24 PM
Skrzynski: A neighbor testified that he was coming home at about 2:30 a.m. He saw two men. When he went past, he saw one head off to the right. Off to the right is the Cipriano house. "They're about to change the lives of these people forever."
by Gina Damron 3:22 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman testified that Young and Cipriano took off.
by Gina Damron 3:20 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman testified that they went back up to Keego Harbor. They park in an apartment building lot. Young and Cipriano told their friend at the house that they were leaving to get some money. She agreed to let Zinderman stay.
by Gina Damron 3:20 PM
Skrzynski: They go back into the truck and talk again about killing the Cipriano family. Zinderman told them that if they want to mess up their lives, to leave him out of it.
by Gina Damron 3:18 PM
Skrzynski: Video shows Young and Cipriano inside of the gas station.
by Gina Damron 3:17 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman said they got back in the truck and headed out for a gas station.
by Gina Damron 3:16 PM
Skrzynski: Tucker Cipriano came out with a Visa gift card. They thought a sticky note said there was $265 on it. Turns out it was $2.65.
by Gina Damron 3:15 PM
Images are being projected to the right of Young on a screen, but he is not looking at htem. He has maintained a pretty constant stare in the direction of the jurors.
Skrzynski: Zinderman said they went back to the house and he helped Cipriano break in again. Young texted Tucker Cipriano, asking if they were OK and that, on the way back from the house, text if something was wrong and he would pick them up.
by Gina Damron 3:15 PM
Skrzynski: When Young and Cipriano start deciding who would kill who and Young says he'll kill Isabella, Tucker changes the plan. Zinderman testified Tucker loves his sister. Tucker decided he wanted to go back again to get money.
by Gina Damron 3:14 PM
Skrzynski: Several transactions at a gas station with Robert Cipriano's check card are denied because of suspected fraud, a DFCU official testified.
by Gina Damron 3:11 PM
Skrzynski is going over text messages. Tucker Cipriano texted a friend in Keego Harbor that they bought Spice (the synthetic marijuana).
by Gina Damron 3:10 PM
Sorry, DO, just saw your comment. DetroitObserver is referring to Young and Cipriano wanting to steal property and head for Mexico or TN, according to testimony given.
by Gina Damron 3:10 PM
Skrzynski is standing hear the jurors.
by Gina Damron 3:09 PM
Young is looking in the direction of the jury. He is sitting with his hands clasped, twiddling his thumbs a bit.
by Gina Damron 3:08 PM
Skrzynski: Tucker Cipriano stole a check card.
by Gina Damron 3:07 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman testified that he and Tucker Cipriano went to the home and Zinderman helped him break into the garage. Young stayed in the truck. He texted Tucker Cipriano: "Call me."
by Gina Damron 3:06 PM
Skrzynski: On April 15, 2012, they set out to break into the home to get money to buy a synthetic marijuana.
by Gina Damron 3:04 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman testified that two weeks before, Young and Cipriano talked about murdering a family and stealing from them.
by Gina Damron 3:03 PM
Skrzynski: They talked about Young murdering the parents and Isabella and Cipriano his brothers.
by Gina Damron 3:02 PM
Skrzynski: Zinderman testified that he, Young and Cipriano were sitting at a gas pump. Young and Cipriano talked about killing the Cipriano family, looting the house and heading to Mexico or Tennessee.
by Gina Damron 3:02 PM
Skrzynski said this indicates both Cipriano and Young had knives, which he said shows an intent to kill and, taking it to a house they intended to rob, shows premeditation.
by Gina Damron 3:00 PM
Skrzynski: Eventually that truck is searched and a knife is found. A knife was also found at the home.
by Gina Damron 3:00 PM
Skrzynski: Ian Zinderman testified that after Tucker Cipriano came back to a house in Keego Harbor, Cipriano told him that he wanted him to get rid of the truck. Officers were already doing surveillance on the truck. Zinderman and a teen girl were arrested at the truck.
by Gina Damron 2:59 PM
During his closing argument, Skrzynski is continuing to go back over the testimony and evidence presented during the trial.
by Gina Damron 2:58 PM
Skrzynski: They intended to kill Salvatore Cipriano.
by Gina Damron 2:55 PM
Skrzynski: Officers testified that, when they responded to the home, they looked through a window and saw Young run by, knock Isabella Cipriano down, and head upstairs.
by Gina Damron 2:53 PM
Skrzynski: Young and Salvatore's DNA was on bloody gloves, found upstairs in the home.
by Gina Damron 2:53 PM
Skrzynski: Salvatore's blood was on Young's hands.
by Gina Damron 2:51 PM
Skrzynski: The DNA expert found Salvatore's blood on the Easton bat.
by Gina Damron 2:50 PM
Skrzynski: Was there intent to kill? "Quite obviously."
by Gina Damron 2:50 PM
"He was on death's door," Skrzynski said of Salvatore.
by Gina Damron 2:49 PM
Skrzynski: Now to Salvatore Cipriano. The doctore testified Salvatore suffered multiple skull fractures. "He was beaten up within an inch of his life."
by Gina Damron 2:49 PM
Skrzynski: In discussions before the attack, according to testimony given, Young was to kill the parents and Tucker Cipriano his brothers.
by Gina Damron 2:48 PM
Skrzynski: Rose "was beaten with both bats."
by Gina Damron 2:47 PM
Skrzynski: The DNA expert also looked at blood found on the Quest bat. Rose's blood was found on the bat.
by Gina Damron 2:46 PM
Skrzynski: The DNA expert testified that Rose's DNA was also on the handle of the Easton bat. The DNA expert also said Rose's blood was on Young's sweatshirt.
by Gina Damron 2:45 PM
Skrzynski: Salvatore was already breathing in his own blood when police arrived at the house.
by Gina Damron 2:43 PM
Skrzynski: The ER doctor said her injuries were life threatening.
by Gina Damron 2:43 PM
Skrzynski: "That's the evidence."
by Gina Damron 2:43 PM
Skrzynski: Young admitted to a detective that he hit Rose Cipriano one or two times in the head with a bad. An ER doctor at Botsford Hospital said Rose had multiple skull fractures.
by Gina Damron 2:42 PM
Now Skrzynski is going to talk about what happened to Rose Cipriano.
by Gina Damron 2:41 PM
"The only reason why they stopped was because they were interrupted," Skrzynski said. Tanner called police, who responded within minutes, Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:41 PM
Skrzynski: Now onto the elements of first-degree felony murder. Young caused Cipriano's death. He had an intent to kill, given the number and severity of blows, and while he was committing or attempting to commit a robbery. He admitted that to a detective. "He committed first-degree felony murder."
by Gina Damron 2:41 PM
Skrzynski: As to premeditated, there was talk before the attack about planning.
by Gina Damron 2:39 PM
Skrzynski: Young caused Robert Cipriano's death, he had the intent to kill, there are a number of blows to his head. "What's his intent? Obviously his intent is to kill."
by Gina Damron 2:39 PM
Now Skrzynski is talking about Robert Cipriano's murder and the elements.
by Gina Damron 2:37 PM
Skrzynski: Young talked to a detective at the hospital. Young said they went to steal money and personal belongings.
by Gina Damron 2:37 PM
Skrzynski: "It's Mitchell Young whose the killer. And we know that from the evidence."
by Gina Damron 2:37 PM
Skrzynski: All that fits together. The conclusion: "Defendant Young is beating Bob Cipriano with the bat. Not only that, he was aiding and abetting."
by Gina Damron 2:36 PM
Skrzynski: When Robert Cipriano's body is found, it's in a position with his right arm twisted around his back. "That looks like someone held Bob from behind," he said. "There's good reason to believe" that person is Tucker Cipriano.
by Gina Damron 2:36 PM
Skrzynski: What that means is that Young was standing within inches of the source of the blood, which was Robert Cipriano's head. The blood also went up in the inseam of Young's pants, meaning it would have been standing above the source.
by Gina Damron 2:35 PM
Skrzynski: The blood spatter expert also looked at Young's pants. She compared to the same pattern made on the cabinet. It was the same: Impact spatter.
by Gina Damron 2:34 PM
Skrzynski: The cast off and impact spatter are consistent with the attack with a baseball bat.
by Gina Damron 2:34 PM
Skrzynski: The blood spatter expert also testified that there was cast off spatter on the ceiling above Robert Cipriano.
by Gina Damron 2:33 PM
Skrzynski: It's known that close to Bob's head, when he was lying there in the kitchen, there was blood spatter on the cabinet. A blood spatter expert testified that it was impact spatter, which means it was close to the object when it was being struck.
by Gina Damron 2:32 PM
Skrzynski: When the expert analyzed the blood on the pants, she found that Robert Cipriano's blood was on Young's pants.
by Gina Damron 2:31 PM
Skrzynski: The DNA expert further testified that she looked at Young's clothing, including his blood-stained pants.
by Gina Damron 2:30 PM
Skrzynski: The DNA expert also found that there was DNA on the handle of the Easton bat. Young could not be excluded as a donor.
by Gina Damron 2:29 PM
"That Easton bat is the murder weapon," Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:29 PM
Salvatore Xipriano's blood was found on the BB gun, Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:29 PM
There is every reason to believe, Skrzynski said, that the BB gun came from an empty gun case found upstairs.
by Gina Damron 2:28 PM
Robert Cipriano's DNA was also found on the BB gun, which was found lying near his body in the kitchen, Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:27 PM
Skrzynski is also talking about the Quest softball bat, which Isabella used to try to protect her family. That would have been her testimony, which both side stipulated to earlier.
by Gina Damron 2:27 PM
The bats, Skrzynski said, were examined by a DNA analysis expert. Robert Cipriano's blood was on the Easton bat.
by Gina Damron 2:26 PM
Skrzynski is recalling testimony from a law enforcement official, who found two bats on the landing leading downstairs.
by Gina Damron 2:25 PM
He is also showing photographs of the witnesses who testified while explaining their testimony.
by Gina Damron 2:24 PM
Skrzynski is using a screen to project images when talking with the jury. He is showing pictures of Robert Cipriano during his autopsy. "He drown in his own blood," Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:24 PM
"They are aiding and abetting each other," Skrzynski said.
by Gina Damron 2:23 PM
Skrzynski: He is recalling the 911 call from Tanner Cipriano, who said his brother and his friend were beating his family with bats.
by Gina Damron 2:23 PM
Skrzynski: Armed robbery, force or violence against the victim; in the course of a larceny; the victim was present; had to use an object causing death or serious injury; and there had to be an aggravated assault or serious injury.
by Gina Damron 2:21 PM
Skrzynski: Assault with intent to murder is trying to physically injury; had the ability to injury; and intended to kill. Also, the jury will be given a lesser charge to consider of assault with intent to do great bodily harm.
by Gina Damron 2:20 PM
Skrzynski: The lesser charge would be second-degree murder, that the defendant caused the death and either had the intent to kill or caused great bodily harm or created a high risk of death or great bodily harm.
by Gina Damron 2:19 PM
Skrzynski: For larceny, stealing someone's proprety, without consent. Can simply be an attempt.
by Gina Damron 2:18 PM
Skrzynski: For robbery, force or violence used against the victim; done in the course of a larceny; and the victim has to be present.
by Gina Damron 2:17 PM
Skrzynski: First-degree felony murder elements a little different. He has to have caused the death; he can either indend to kill or intend to cause great bodily harm or create a high risk of death or great bodily harm; and do while committing or attempting to commit a robbery and/or larceny.
by Gina Damron 2:16 PM
Skrzynski: First degree premedited murder. First element is that defendant caused the death and intended to kill. That intent to kill has to be formed before action is committed and deliberated.
by Gina Damron 2:15 PM
Skrzynski explaining charges.
by Gina Damron 2:14 PM
Assistant Prosecutor John Skrzynski is giving his closing argument.
by Gina Damron 2:11 PM
Judge Shalina Kumar has taken the bench.
by Gina Damron 2:08 PM
Mitchell Young was just brought out. Closing statements should begin shortly.
by Gina Damron 2:05 PM
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