By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
The fate of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is now in the hands of a jury.
The jury heard 35 days of surreal, outlandish and often gruesome testimony from 56 government witnesses.
The seven women and five men on the jury are expected to begin deliberating Monday to determine whether the notorious 61-year-old conspired to murder countless rivals, traffic nearly 450,000 pounds of cocaine and launder millions of dollars.
During close arguments Thursday, Guzman’s attorneys told the jury to dismiss the government’s case because it relies on witnesses who “lie, steal, cheat, deal drugs and kill people,” NBC News reports.
Prosecutors said the trial provided an “avalanche of evidence” to prove Guzman’s guilt.
Guzman stayed quiet during the trial and declined to testify in his own defense.
“Señor judge, me and my attorneys have spoken about this,” Guzman said, “and I will reserve.”
His life is now in the hands of a jury.
