Closing arguments delivered in James Ross trial; jury sent to deliberate

Judge Stephanie Boyd of the 187th District Court read the jury charge and instructions, then allowed 20 minutes of closing argument for each side in the case against James Ross, who faces one count of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

In his closing, a prosecutor argued that evidence — including eyewitness testimony and 911 calls — showed Ross threatened the complainants and “used or exhibited a deadly weapon, to wit a firearm.” The prosecutor asked jurors to consider testimony that witnesses described a gun, the manner in which the object was drawn from the defendant’s front waistband, and a prior conviction recorded in cause number 0966641D as proof supporting the unlawful-possession charge.

Defense counsel, who identified himself in court as Rossford, told jurors the facts do not support robbery or assault. He argued there was no intent to steal and no weapon; he said the silver object some witnesses described could have been a wallet. Defense counsel urged jurors to view the case as a payment dispute and pressed that witnesses’ perceptions and identifications were unreliable.

The judge ruled on multiple evidentiary objections during argument, sustaining some and overruling others, and reminded jurors of the court’s instructions regarding the law and the need to avoid outside information, bias or sympathy. The judge also instructed the jury they must be unanimous and that they may not use electronic devices or discuss the case outside the jury room.

Defense rested after its closing; the prosecution presented a rebuttal that reviewed the state’s account of each charged count and urged a guilty verdict. The court then excused the jury to begin deliberations. No verdict appears in this portion of the transcript.