Closing Arguments Begin In 1994 Stabbing Death Of Cal State Fullerton Student

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Closing arguments began Wednesday in the case of a man accused in the 1994 stabbing death of his on-again, off-again girlfriend.

"The person Cathy Torrez was about to see right before she was butchered is sitting right there in that chair," said Prosecutor Matt Murphy, referring to the defendant, Samuel Agustin Lopez, 43, of Placentia.

Lopez stands accused of stabbing Cathy Torrez 21 years ago before leaving her body inside the trunk of a red Toyota.

During his closing argument at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Murphy further argued that Lopez's statements and actions after Torrez's disappearance point squarely to him being involved in the murder.

According to Murphy, Lopez was visibly absent during an all-out search for Torrez, who was a student of California State University, Fullerton.

"Why is Sam Lopez not shoulder-to-shoulder with these people doing all that same stuff? Why is Sam Lopez not leading the charge? And the reason, of course, is because he knows the end of that search is not going to be a happy ending," Murphy said.

After the prosecution wraps up, Lopez's defense attorney Lewis Rosenblum will have his turn.

As KCAL9's Michele Gile reports, Rosenblum since the beginning of the trial has blamed the defendant's cousin -- Xavier Lopez -- for the killing, whom Gile said will stand trial, as well.

Jurors must first decide the fate of Lopez and are expected to begin deliberations on Friday.