Jury Deliberating Griffith Murder Case

A jury of eight men and four women is now deliberating the Commonwealth's case against Keith Griffith. They will decide if he is guilty of the murder of his wife, Julie, setting fire to their home, and allowing their two dogs to die in the blaze.

(UPDATE 7:50 pm: the jury asked Judge Tim Kaltenbach if circumstantial evidence carried the same weight as direct evidence in their decision, and he told them he was not able to answer. He said they would have to determine that on their own, and by referring to their jury instructions.)

 (UPDATE 6:15 pm: The jury will continue deliberating, and Judge Tim Kaltenbach has ordered them dinner.)

(UPDATE 4:15 pm: The jury asked for help locating some specific pieces of evidence: still photos from surveillance cameras on Old Benton Road, photos related to the search of the interior of Griffith's vehicle, and a transcript of the entire trial. Attorneys and Judge Kaltenbach found the exhibits, and told the jury they can replay any testimony the jury would like to hear, but a complete transcript of the trial is not available.)

During closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorney Mark Bryant said the criminal investigation targeted Griffith from the moment he was informed that his wife had died, because he didn't react the way members of the Mccracken County Sheriff's Department expected.

Bryant said the state's mountain of evidence against Griffith is, "a garbage dump." He said the state has portrayed Griffith as a cheating husband and liar, and produced a few witnesses, and now they want the jury to convict him. Bryant said the Sheriff's Department botched the investigation by having tunnel vision, but they have no proof Griffith was in Paducah, no weapon, and no witnesses.

Bryant provided an explanation or answer for every one of the prosecution's witnesses, while he acknowledged that Griffith had made some choices in his personal life that were questionable. He reminded the jurors that the burden of proof is on the Commonwealth, and said it's impossible to connect the dots to prove Griffith was a murderer.

Bryant said, "a close call is reasonable doubt," and referring to the sheriff's department again, said, "please do not reward them for their shoddy work."

"My client has maintained his innocence from the beginning," Bryant  told the jury in closing. "This case is based on the flimsiest and weakest circumstantial evidence. Let the Good Lord deal with him on his marital transgressions, but send that Sheriff's office back to find the real killer. Free Keith Griffith. Find the real killer. Only you can do that."

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Raymond McGee said he doesn't think Bryant attended the same trial the jury witnessed. McGee said the defense was just as Griffith wanted it – full of deception from start to finish – and he said the trial has proven that Griffith is a really good liar.

McGee said Griffith's problem is that his lies kept changing from the day of the fire until his testimony yesterday. McGee said Griffith's ever-evolving alibi finally included several stops around Jeffersonville, Indiana that could have been investigated by prosecution or defense, but it wasn't introduced until the beginning of the trial.

McGee said the evidence isn't a coincidence - the girlfriend, the items he pawned, the missing cash at home, the extra tank full of gas he purchased, the cell phone he turned off, the real estate inquiries in Indiana, and the extra trips in and out of the hotel – all point to a man working hard to conceal that he killed for lust and greed.

McGee asked for a conviction, saying, "the simplest answer also happens to be the correct answer," in this case.