Jury deliberating Almandinger's fate

PALMER— The jury is still out for Erick Almandinger, the first teen to face trial for the murder of fellow teen, David Grunwald in Nov. 2016.

The defense and prosecution both made their closing arguments in Wednesday, May 30, adding an emotional conclusion to an already emotional trial. The jury is still deliberating. It could take 20 minutes. It could take all day. It could go into next week or longer.

The big question the jurors are debating amongst themselves lies within the defendant’s intent. The various member of the community will ultimately decide if Almandinger was an “unwilling bystander” or “willing participant” during the beating, kidnapping and execution of Grunwald.

Palmer District Attorney, Roman J. Kalytiak asked the jury if they were wondering why he and Almandinger’s defense attorney, Jon Iannaccone haven’t done much arguing. It’s true. The two haven’t had the classic legal battle one might see on a courtroom drama. They haven’t shouted ‘objection!’ Or locked horns in a game of legal volleyball, constantly trying to cut each other off. It was nothing like that and this case, as Kalytiak put it, is ‘unique.’

Kalytiak explained that the state and defense actually agree on pretty much everything except for Alamindger’s intent. Both sides agreed that Almandinger spun a web of lies, but for entirely different reasons.

“Erick Almandinger didn’t want any of this to happen,” Iannaccone said.

Almandinger declined to testify on his own behalf Iannaccone said his client was just a kid in a “dress up game.”

Hot tears started coming from Almandinger for the first time seen at this trial. He cried as his attorney ran through his version of events one last time.

Grunwald’s mother saw this and wrote a note with big letters, “Cry like David cried.”

After Iannaccone concluded his closing argument, Kalytiak had one more point to drive home with his last rebuttal. Kalytiak set up a monitor with a slideshow that faced the jury. Almandinger and his attorney moved their chairs to the other side of the room, near the jury and facing the monitor. The number 27 was on the monitor, representing the time the group had to think about what they were doing, the time they had to change course but didn’t.

He flashed between an image of Grunwald’s body and videos and pictures of Almandinger the days and weeks following- partying, holding his gun in a selfie, “business as usual.” He called Grunwald’s “road bump” in their non-stop party. He flashed back and forth, through 10 slides always going back to Grunwald’s body, contrasting with his living counterpart.

“Erick does not get a medal for this,” Iannaccone said.

Almandinger’s defense attorney, Jon Iannaccone asked the jury to find his client innocent of murder and kidnapping but guilty of “manslaughter” and other lesser crimes including evidence tampering and impeding investigation.

“We are here to find the truth,” Kalytiak said to the jury. “Your decision is ultimately your opinion.”