State wraps its case against Yazeed Essa

CLEVELAND - The prosecution in the Yazeed Essa murder trial rested their case on Monday.

Prosecutors believe Yazeed Essa poisoned his wife with cyanide that he had placed in calcium pills.

The state wrapped up its case with testimony from a Highland Heights police detective and a woman who was a friend of both Yazeed Essa and his wife, Rosemarie.

Gina Hasrouni was the first to testify on the final day of testimony. She told jurors she was at Rosemarie Essa’s wake and she asked Yazeed what happened to his wife.

"And he said ‘They're not going to find out what happened,’” Hasrouni said.

The final prosecution witness, Highland Heights Police Detective Dennis Matejcic confirmed earlier testimony that the police investigation ruled out product tampering.

Perhaps the most damaging testimony of the trial came on Feb. 8 from the defendant’s own brother.

"I asked him if he was responsible for her death and he said yes… He said he put the cyanide in the capsules,” Firas Essa said.

Last week came the emotional testimony of Rosemarie’s friend Eva McGregor, the last person to speak to Rosemarie before she died. She said Rosemarie said she had just taken calcium pills.

The defense attorneys will start putting their witnesses on the stand Tuesday morning.

Yazeed Essa’s attorneys have not yet decided if the defendant will take the stand.