(02/28/07) STAMFORD ? The fate of a man accused of brutally murdering a retired Stamford schoolteacher was put in the hands of a jury Wednesday.

Closing arguments were heard in the murder trial of Harry Gonzalez. Prosecutors say Gonzalez slashed Joanne Troutwein?s throat in her Rockrimmon Road home in October of 2005. One of the key witnesses for the prosecution was Gonzalez?s ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Kos. The ex-girlfriend, who testified in exchange for a reduced prison sentence, says she was in the home with Gonzalez and placed him at the scene.

However, defense attorneys claim Kos is lying just to get a shorter prison term. The jury is expected to have a verdict by Friday.

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