ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – “Count 1 first-degree felony murder, guilty as charged,” said the jury.
The verdict is in, and both Carlos Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo have been found guilty of the murder of Hussein Murray.
“These defendants were never concerned about their life and death, and as you heard, there’s DNA from these defendants, but there’s never any blood from the defendants. The only blood you see - and there’s a lot of it is from Mr. Murray,” said a member of the prosecution during closing statements.
Both men, now convicted of first-degree murder and unlawful imprisonment, appeared in the same courtroom in a very unique case where they had separate trials with two different juries.
“There was no way one person was controlling Mr. Murray all by themselves, to both tie him up and keep in a position to do all that. That doesn’t seem to me to be reasonable,” the prosecution continued.
Murray, the owner of the Hamtramck jewelry store, investigators say, was deceived by the two defendants who dressed up as DTE workers to gain entry into the home.
“Sam opens the door, the defendant Hernandez with the cold fit right behind him, are trying to talk to William to the house. Mrs Murray says it’s a little late to be doing a gas check,” the prosecution added.
While he was being killed in the basement, his wife was tied up and bound with duct tape. The battle she still faces today is also mentioned in the courtroom.
“It’s a traumatic situation and experience that she’s never had before and is still living with to this day,” said another person who testified.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 9.