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Closing Arguments Made In Cold Case Murder Trial

Prosecutor Admits Mistakes Made In Investigation

POSTED: 11:02 am HST April 24, 2009
UPDATED: 12:11 pm HST April 24, 2009

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The defense and prosecutors delivered their closing statements Friday in the murder trial of a man accused of raping and strangling a woman 10 years ago.

Darnell Griffin is accused of killing Evelyn Luka, 20.

"All the evidence points to Darnell Griffin as the man who raped and murdered Evelyn Luka," prosecutor Kevin Tanaka said.

Tanaka admitted there were weaknesses in the case.

"Processing of the scene was not done well. We concede that. This was not a good investigation. Leads were not followed up. Guilt is not determined by the quality of an investigation, but by the evidence and all the evidence points to the defendant," Tanaka said.

The key evidence was a DNA test showing Griffin's sperm was inside Luka.

The defense said that because of the DNA, the prosecution made the wrong presumption "instead of presuming innocence they presumed guilt."

Defense attorney Edward Aquino said the case was built on "imagination, suspicion, speculation and guesswork."

Griffin's wife said he was home the night Luka was raped and strangled. The defense focused on investigative gaps and conflicts in witness testimony to say the state had not met its burden to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge did not allow the jury to be told that Griffin was convicted of a similar murder 26 years ago.

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