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Jury deliberates fate of man accused of trying to kill Travis County judge

Chimene Onyeri is accused of trying to kill the judge in 2015.

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas -- Closing arguments have finished and the jury is now deliberating Wednesday in the trial of the man accused of trying to shoot and kill a Travis County judge in 2015.

Prosecutors began their closing arguments by playing the 911 recording of the shooting that nearly killed Travis County District Judge Julie Kocurek.

Prosecutors said Onyeri led a RICO or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy or "crime ring" out of Houston.

Prosecutor Gregg Sofer said Onyeri stalked and intended to kill Judge Kocurek because she was a threat to Onyeri's alleged white collar crime scheme. Onyeri had a criminal case pending in Kocurek's court at the time of the attempted capital murder.

Onyeri is accused of mail fraud, wire fraud, bribery, identity theft, money laundering and attempted capital murder. According to prosecutors, the attempted murder was part of the racketeering.

In the defense's closing arguments, Onyeri's attorney reminded the jury about the presumption of innocence.

The attorney raised doubts about whether the attempted capital murder was actually related to the crime scheme or whether it was because Onyeri thought he was being treated unfairly.

Onyeri's attorney also questioned whether Onyeri had specific intent to kill Kocurek.

Closing arguments ended at around 4 p.m.

During his testimony, Onyeri admitted to shooting in Judge Kocurek's car on Nov. 6, 2015. He said that he did not intend to kill her and that he only meant to scare her and her family. Kocurek had to spend nearly two months in the hospital due to the shrapnel that hit her face and hand.

Onyeri faces a 17-count indictment.

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Reporter Rebeca Trejo is live-tweeting from the courtroom:

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