Ex-Marine Cesar Laurean found guilty
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on August 23, 2010 4:56 PM
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Deputies handcuff convicted murderer Cesar Laurean after jurors found him guilty of the first-degree murder of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach following three hours of deliberation Monday afternoon. Laurean will send the rest of his life behind bars. He plans to appeal his conviction.
Mary Lauterbach broke down moments ago inside the Wayne County Courthouse, as a jury proclaimed ex-Marine Cesar Laurean guilty of the first-degree murder of her daughter, Maria.
The jury deliberated for only a few hours after listening, earlier today, to closing arguments delivered by prosecutors and defense attorney Dick McNeil.
Laurean was then sentenced by Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
McNeil had hoped Smith would allow the jury to choose second-degree murder if it, in fact, came to the conclusion Laurean committed the crime. Smith though, said he would only allow the first-degree charge to be considered.
For complete coverage of the final day of the trial -- and the aftermath -- including interviews with prosecutors and the defense team, the Lauterbach family and local residents, see Tuesday's News-Argus.