A jury began deliberations on Tuesday morning in the murder trial of a Nova Southeastern University professor.
The jury, comprised of six men and six women, started deliberating at 10:45 a.m. whether to convict Randy Tundidor Sr. of murdering Plantation college professor Joe Morrissey in 2009. Later in the afternoon they stopped and will continue again on Wednesday.
In closing arguments on Monday, prosecutors asked the jury to see through the defense contention that Tundidor’s son committed the murder on his own without any involvement from father. They added that Randy Tundidor Jr. had no motive or reason to invade the Morrissey home on his own. The father, however, allegedly had a vendetta against Morrissey, who was in the process of evicting him from his apartment, prosecutors said.
Randy Tundidor Jr. was the state's star witness, testifying against his father, saying his dad killed Morrissey. He pleaded guilty to his involvement in the crime in exchange for his testimony.
The prosecutor told the jury the only deal they made was the Randy Tundidor Jr. would not get the death penalty. He could still get life in prison.
Defense attorney Chris Pole asked the jury to dismiss the son’s testimony and again said the son is the one who murdered Morrissey. He pointed out there's no physical evidence linking the father to the crime, and he said Randy Tundidor Jr. had more of a reason to kill. The father denies any involvement in the crime.
