Closing arguments will be held at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Alex Fazzino murder trial

Associate State Medical Examiner Dr. Michele Catellier

Testimony has ended in the Alex Fazzino murder trial and now only the closing arguments stand in the way of a Winneshiek County jury beginning its deliberations.  After a brief court session Monday afternoon, those closing arguments are now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Associate State Medical Examiner Dr. Michele Catellier took the stand one last time Monday morning.  Under questioning from prosecuting attorney Scott Brown, Cattelier said she saw no medical signs that Emily Fazzino was alcoholic at the time of her death.  She also testified that the numerous bruises on Emily Fazzino's head and neck could not all be explained as the result of a fall or the result of treatment by emergency medical technicians after her body was found.

But under questioning from defense attorney William Kutmus, Dr. Catellier repeated her conclusion that the cause of Emily Fazzino's death was "undetermined."  Dr. Cattelier had earlier testified that she was "leaning" toward declaring the death a homicide, but "I didn't feel comfortable in making that final commitment."  Answering a question from Kutmus, Dr. Cattelier concluded, "I don't know what happened to Emily."

Closing arguments will be held at 8:30 Tuesday.