Jury begins deliberations in Ashland murder trial

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A jury began deliberations Thursday in the trial of a man accused in a 2021 Boone County stabbing death.

Robin Morales-Sanchez, 22, is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action. He is accused of killing Moises Hernandez-Sanchez by stabbing him several times in the torso at an Ashland home in 2021.

Morales-Sanchez is being held at the Boone County Jail.

The prosecution and defense delivered their closing statements Thursday morning, intensifying the high tension in the Boone County courtroom. Friends and family of Moises Hernandez-Sanchez watched closely as both sides presented their arguments.

The prosecution revisited direct quotes from testimonies given the previous day. They emphasized that three witnesses described the defendant's character problems on Wednesday.

Sarah Malakie, the defendant's girlfriend at the time, told a detective after the incident that the defendant was "hot-headed" and "liked to get in fights." Prosecutors noted the force needed to make the stab wounds -- so much that it fractured the victim's ribs, according to pathologist Dr. Carl Stacey.

The defense said that a fight had occurred among four men, including Robin Morales-Sanchez and Moises Hernandez-Sanchez. According to their account, Morales-Sanchez retreated to his house after the altercation, and Moises followed him inside.

The defense contends that Morales-Sanchez acted in self-defense against the victim. They also referenced testimony from Malakie, who picked up Morales-Sanchez from the scene. Malakie said Morales-Sanchez had a black eye and appeared to have been attacked.

The trial began Monday with jury selection.

Check back for updates to this developing story.