FRESNO, Calif. — The fate of Andrew Leon now lies in the hands of a jury following closing arguments presented by attorneys in a high-profile murder trial. Prosecutors and the defense made their final appeals to the jurors on Monday, establishing starkly contrasting narratives regarding Leon’s actions in the shooting death of April Diaz, the mother of his then-girlfriend.
Prosecutor Kendall Reynolds emphasized the importance of credibility in the case, pointing out, “This is a murder case. Believability and credibility is what this case really comes down to. Who do you believe?” As he urged the jurors to consider the evidence carefully, he underscored the brutality of the crime, stating, “He knows he’s guilty of murder. It’s up to you to decide how to interpret that evidence.”
Leon has pleaded not guilty, facing charges of murder stemming from a November 2023 incident at Diaz’s home in Huron. Authorities allege that after being denied entry to the residence, Leon shot Diaz 11 times, continuing to fire until his weapon jammed.
Brendan Bergh, Leon’s public defender, countered the prosecution’s case by questioning the motivation behind the alleged premeditated act. “The real question I want you to ask yourself is, if he planned to kill April, why did he wait?” he asked the jury during his closing remarks.
The defense asserts that Leon acted in self-defense, claiming that Diaz threatened him with a knife. However, prosecutors challenged this assertion, arguing that Leon, by arriving armed and racking his gun, had created the very situation for which he seeks to justify his actions. “Mr. Leon made up seeing this knife,” Reynolds argued, dismissing the self-defense claim as fabricated.
As the trial unfolds, Leon, though only 21 years old, has remained attentive and engaged during proceedings. His attorney maintained that the prosecution had not met the burden of proof required for a conviction. “The District Attorney had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Bergh asserted.
The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations on Tuesday morning. If found guilty, Leon could face a prison sentence ranging from 50 years to life.
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