The prosecution and defense took different styles into their closing comments in the trial to determine whether Richard Forsberg of Rancho Santa Margarita murdered his wife of 39 years, Marcia Ann Forsberg.
Her death in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2010, came on the 42nd anniversary of the couple's first date as sweethearts at Ventura College. Marcia was 60 at the time of her death.
Forsberg, now 63, confessed to pummeling his wife with a one-pound nightstand figurine—a six-armed Hindu goddess. He said she lay in bed and said something dismissive to him and turned away from him after an argument, an act that "triggered a rage" in him. He cut up her body and burned the parts at Lake Piru, then told friends and family that she was visiting a friend in Arizona to work things out while the couple underwent marital discord—a ruse he maintained for six months until friends filed a missing persons report.
Forsberg was defended by Calvin Schneider III and prosecuted by senior deputy district attorney Ebrahim Baytieh.
The jury, which heard more than eight hours of audio and video interviews with Forsberg during the trial, continues deliberation on Monday.
After the prosecution and defense gave their final arguments, Baytieh was given the final rebuttal in which he told jurors they were the "last link in the chain of justice," and they should pour water on the white rose of truth—a symbol he used for his statement that "the truth will always come out." He also made reference to Marcia Forsberg being denied a funeral because there was nothing left of her at the hands of her husband.
Watch the final words before the jury took possession of the case against Forsberg for the death of his wife Marcia Ann.
