Closing Arguments in Stanley Lloyd Jr. Trial Expected Wednesday Morning

The first-degree murder trial for Stanley Virgil Lloyd Jr. continues this week, following a three-day break over Thanksgiving. Closing arguments can be expected Wednesday morning, according to prosecutor David Williams III.

Lloyd is accused of gunning down his former elementary school classmate, Christopher Carioscia, in fall 2010. Carioscia was 17 when he went missing on Barona Indian Reservation and Lloyd was 19 when at his Lakeside home. Part of the testimony suggests a possible motive could have been "the heat" that Carioscia was "bringing up to the rez," . Lloyd is a member and resident of the reservation.

In opening arguments, Deputy District Attorney Williams told the jury that Carioscia's parents had been operating an and that Carioscia filled prescriptions for them and sold Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication. that Lloyd's wiretapped phone conversations indicated he was buying Xanax.

Witnesses have testified that Carioscia was planning to meet Lloyd on the night he went missing in October 2010, and that he needed money. The jury has also heard that Lloyd brandished a gun at a party on the reservation a few nights after Lloyd went missing and that he bragged of killing someone and disposing of the body and vehicle. Carioscia's partly decomposed body was found about two miles off Wildcat Canyon Road, southwest of Barona Speedway about six weeks after he went missing. His burned-out car was found the morning after he was last seen. It was located about a mile from Lloyd's home, the jury has heard.

In the preliminary hearing, one of Lloyd's cousins, Dustin Montiel—a "semi-reluctant witness" for the prosecution—testified that . has not testified in the trial; instead jurors heard the transcript of his earlier testimony.

An autopsy showed Carioscia's body was laced with —which was noted to be a heroin metabolite.

A witness testified that he saw Carioscia staggering and slurring his words at Barona Casino where Carioscia was last reported seen alive. The casino's matchbooks were found in Carioscia's pockets when his body was found. The medical examiner also reported several bullet wounds.

The defense has argued that there's no evidence proving that Lloyd ever met up with Carioscia that night. Attorney Roland Haddad of La Mesa has rebutted testimony from the partygoers by questioning their memory in light of the heavy drinking they reported. He has also tried to cast doubt that the "murder weapon" produced in court—a .357 magnum handgun—was ever in Lloyd's possession. At issue is witness testimony regarding the color of the handle of the gun Lloyd is said to have shown partygoers after Carioscia went missing.

If convicted, Lloyd faces 50 years in prison.

The case is being heard at the El Cajon courthouse.