Adams, 47, is charged with killing Stacey Johnston and tampering with evidence. When he was arrested in the summer of 2007 after police found Johnston's body in his car, Adams denied he did it. But during the three-week trial, the issue came down to whether he intended to kill her -- a choice for the jury among degrees of murder or manslaughter.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Rachel Gernat told jurors all they had to do was look at the autopsy photos for evidence that Adams intended to kill Johnston. It's all over her body, she said.
Defense attorney Scott Sterling argued there could be no such intent because Adams was too drunk at the time. No question he beat Johnston, but he never meant to kill her, Sterling said. The manner in which she died, he told the jury, makes it closer to manslaughter, not second-degree murder and definitely not murder in the first-degree.
The jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon.
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