Jury About To Decide Fate Of Two Murder Suspects

Two and a half years later, a valley murder trial nears it’s end.

“This crime is really stunning. It’s almost breathtaking in the level of cruelty and brutality that was visited on Mr. Keeley,” prosecuting attorney Scot Clark said.

Prosecutors said 28-year-old Steven Banister and his accomplice 27-year-old Travis Cody robbed and fatally beat 75-year-old Edward Keeley in 2009 in his Desert Hot Springs home.

Keeley’s body was found in his back yard.

According to court papers, Banister, an alleged white supremacist, used the Megan’s Law website to target sex offenders. Keeley was a registered sex offender.

Regarding the defendants, the prosecution said, “They both shot their mouths off to people and described the crime. They both made calls from jail that made it plain that they committed the crime.”

However, the defense says a game of he-said, she-said isn’t reliable.

“Their argument is that Mr. Banister made statements to his girlfriend the night of the murder. Our argument is that she’s an incredible witness who should not be believed,” defense attorney Gregory Johnson said. “There was no DNA, no fingerprints, no footprints.”

The defense admits Cody was at Keeley’s home the night of the murder.

“But he didn’t do anything. Therefore, his mere presence would not be sufficient to convict him of the murder or the special circumstances allegations,” defense attorney Leni Jacobs said.

Those special circumstances were that the alleged murder was committed during a burglary or a robbery.

“That’s what makes the punishment life without parole,” Johnson said.

The case is now in the hands of the jury. Deliberations continue Thursday morning at 9 a.m.