By 25 News

PONTIAC – A jury took less than three hours to find Clifford Brewer guilty of all six counts of first-degree murder in the Christmas 2019 deaths of his wife, son and their family friend.

The jury received the case Tuesday after both sides wrapped up closing arguments in his trial.

The prosecution, in closing made note of the number of times Brewer changed his story to control the narrative. They said it was his effort to hide important details.

The defense rebuked that argument, demonstrating how Shirley Brewer, Clifford’s wife, committed the crimes.

That includes a live bullet found at the scene, which they say was ejected from the gun by someone, like Shirley Brewer who lacks experience with weapons.

The prosecution saying claims like that hold no basis in fact.

They pointed to a lack of evidence that Shirley was the killer, including the defense theory about the bullet.

Prosecutors said the defense was trying to convince the jury of evidence that doesn’t exist.

Brewer faces mandatory life without parole, based on Illinois law that requires such a sentence for two or more murders.

He is set to be sentenced October 5 at 2 p.m.

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