UPDATE:

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) — A jury found Larry Cargle not guilty of vehicular homicide Wednesday morning in the 2021 death of Eden Muina.

However, he was found guilty of failing to yield. Cargle has been placed on a year of probation.

SEE PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Jury begins deliberations in Walker County vehicular homicide case

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) – Deliberations have begun in a Walker County vehicular homicide trial, where a college student was killed in a 2021 crash.

Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases in the Larry Cargle trial on Tuesday.

Larry Cargle. the man facing a second-degree vehicular homicide charge in the 2021 death of Eden Muina.

Cargle is facing second degree vehicular homicide charges in the death of Eden Muina.

She was only 20 years old and was traveling back to Berry College from Fort Oglethorpe at the time of her death.

In closing arguments, the prosecution and defense said that there are two very different ways to look at this case.

The defense called several witnesses who testified they never saw headlights.

The defense argued to the jury that there is consistent testimony that Muina’s headlights were turned off at the time of the collision.

They told the jury quote, “It was a tragedy, but it was not a crime.”

Meanwhile, the prosecution says that evidence from a security camera a mile before the scene proved Muina had her lights on.

Furthermore, the prosecution suggested that several of the other witnesses were likely not paying close enough attention, leading to them not seeing Muina’s lights.

Muina’s father testified that his daughter and him had regular maintenance done to Munia’s 1978 Volkswagen Beetle, saying the car never had lighting issues.

The prosecutor further said that convict Cargle, the jury did not have to find intent to cause a crime under Georgia state law.

He argued quote, “We must hold everyone driving responsible for their actions.” 

Larry Cargle himself testified on the stand that he never saw the lights, and that he would have stopped in the turning on Highway 27 if he saw Muina coming.

Cargle testified quote, “I will feel guilty about her death for the rest of my life. It doesn’t mean it was my fault.” 

Jurors got about an hour of deliberation on Tuesday afternoon.

They will return on Wednesday morning where a verdict could be rendered.