A jury has begun deliberations in the murder trial of a Punta Gorda 7-Eleven store clerk that was killed, and then set on fire. Prosecutors say Michael Russo shot 18-year-old Kyle Farishian inside the store Halloween night in 2015. In closing arguments, they noted similarities between Russo and the man shown on surveillance video committing the crime. Russo’s attorney, though, said the video is a lack of direct evidence, saying everything the prosecution presented was circumstantial evidence. Russo opted not to testify in the trial accusing him of second-degree murder and arson. Jurors went home for the night around 6 p.m. and will continue deliberations this morning.
