Overview

• The jury started hearing final arguments Thursday after a three-week trial featuring more than 30 witnesses and roughly 300 exhibits.
• Assistant State’s Attorney Stephanie Gersch depicted Brand’s threats of “If I can’t have you, no one can” and detailed the violent stabbings during her closing remarks.
• Brand has represented himself and testified that he acted in self-defense, claiming Smith accidentally stabbed her son during their altercation.
• The case’s fallout included the resignation of two Illinois Prisoner Review Board members and new legislation to strengthen domestic violence training for parole officials.
• Emotional outbursts from family members over graphic testimony prompted Judge Angela Petrone to tighten courtroom security ahead of the jury’s deliberations.