NORWICH – The prosecution and defense presented closing arguments to the jury on Monday, providing two vastly different descriptions of the alleged murder of 58-year-old David Green.

Jeremy Coates, 47, of Greene, was accused of killing Green in September 2016 and is charged with first-degree murder, assault, and robbery. The judge is expected to hand the jury the case later this afternoon, after they receive final legal instruction by the court.

According to District Attorney Joseph McBride, Coates killed Green with a 75-pound piece of slate found in the victim's home. McBride told the jury Coates wanted money, marijuana, guns, and other valuables to help pay his rent. He said Coates hit Green 20 times with the intent to kill him and used several objects including the piece of slate, a hammer, a battle-ax, and an ashtray as weapons.

"It was his crime, it was his murder. He had [Green's possessions] and the motive," said McBride.

Assistant Public Defender Zachary Wentworth disagreed with McBride, and said the lack of Coates' DNA at the crime scene, of reliable witnesses to testify on what occurred the night of the murder, and lack of DNA or fingerprints from Coates' girlfriend, who admitted she was at the victim's home on the night of the murder, all point towards his girlfriend as the true killer.

The defendant, Coates, declined to take the stand in his own defense at the trial. The defense did not call any witnesses in the case.

A key witness in the case, Melissa Crispell, 43, of Oxford, was Coates' girlfriend at the time of the murder. She was originally charged with second-degree murder, assault and robbery. She accepted a plea deal in May 2017 and is facing 15-to-25 years in state prison. Crispell will be sentenced after Coates’ trial.

In closing arguments McBride told the jury Crispell's testimony wasn't without contradiction, but said the major points of the case were supported by physical evidence including text messages and video surveillance footage.

He reminded the jury, police found burnt evidence including the victim's keys found at Whaupaunaucau State Park, the stolen guns found in Coates' home, and the defendant's conversation with his roommate, Randy Buck, placing him at Green's home on the night of the murder.

"Who puts Mr. Coates at that house?" asked McBride. "He does, with his texts and through his words to his friend."

Wentworth told the jury a different version of events, claiming that Crispell was the sole perpetrator.