After final points from attorneys, jury deliberations begin in Billy Ray Turner trial

With the conclusion of the closing arguments in the Billy Ray Turner trial rendered, a Shelby County jury has begun deliberating whether the evidence points to Turner as the person who killed Lorenzen Wright in a remote area in July 2010.

Wright was, by the descriptions of both the prosecution and defense, a son of Memphis. He was a high school graduate of Memphis City Schools, played for the University of Memphis, and played for the Memphis Grizzlies for five seasons.

The trial has been ongoing since March 14. A sequestered jury listened to the last witnesses called by the prosecution and the defense on Saturday before taking Sunday off.

Much of the trial centered on the testimony of Jimmie Martin, who is the cousin of Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife, Sherra Wright.

Background: What we know about Billy Turner and Sherra Wright's involvement in Lorenzen Wright slaying

Martin, the prosecution said, presented ample corroborating evidence that placed Turner in planning discussions, a failed attempt to kill Wright in his Atlanta home, at the murder scene, and then finally, in subsequent efforts to clear evidence from the crime scene.

A key strategy for defense attorney John Perry has been discounting Martin's testimony as words cast by a man already serving time for killing his girlfriend; Martin, Perry said, was eager to avoid any additional criminal charges when he agree to help investigators solve Wright's death.

Martin was granted immunity in Wright case. He was revealed by prosecutors as the "unindicted co-conspirator" in 2018.

Opening Statements: In opening statements of Billy Ray Turner's trial, the defense points to already imprisoned man as actual killer

During closing arguments, Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Austin Scofield walked the jury through a recap of Turner's statements for police, and corroborating evidence that showed Turner communicated with both Sherra Wright and Martin the night of the murder.

Scofield pointed repeatedly to a "crude code" used by Sherra Wright, who is currently serving time after pleading guilty to her role in Wright's death in 2019, as key evidence that showed Turner was working with Sherra Wright.

Turner, the prosecution asserted, had a romantic relationship with Sherra Wright and was someone she could manipulate.

Texts recovered in the investigation show Turner was not simply Sherra Wright's yard man. Otherwise, the prosecution argued, why would Turner respond to communications from Sherra Wright with "what needs to be done" in regards to Wright, as opposed to "I'm just the yard man."

Trial Coverage: Key witness in Billy Ray Turner's trial describes night Lorenzen Wright was killed

The defense has countered this argument and casted Turner as not an easily-manipulated dolt, but rather as a self-made man with his own lawn business and full life.

Key evidence in the trial has been cell phone location data that placed Turner in the area of Wright's death on the night of July 18, 2010, the use of Turner's car in the murder, and communications between Turner and Sherra Wright.

Perry has countered the major pieces of evidence presented by prosecution by attacking the character of both Sherra Wright and Martin, and characterizing much of the evidence as circumstantial evidence that does not rise beyond the level of reasonable doubt.

"The state of Tennessee was smart enough to know that when they made a deal with a guy like Jimmie Martin, [it's their chance] to solve the murder of Lorenzen Wright," Perry said.

Sherra Wright: In stunner, Sherra Wright pleads guilty in Lorenzen Wright case, could become eligible for release in roughly 7 years

After Perry's closing statements, the jury took a short recess for lunch. When they returned to the courtroom, Asst. Dist. Atty. Paul Hagerman offered a rebuttal to Perry' closing statements.

With the amount of evidence working against Turner, Hagerman said, evidence that arrived in the form of testimony and interpersonal communications between key players, the only way Turner is innocent is if there is a complicated conspiracy to frame Turner.

"It would have to be that Billy is being framed. Is this something you have heard of before? Framing the yard man? Is that a thing that happens in life?" Hagerman asked.

The days following Wright's death, Hagerman said, were a scramble. The suspects in Wright's death have no idea what he said to the 911 operator as he was running from gunfire. They just know they left evidence, and the communications during this time tell the jury everything they need to know.

And communications from Turner to the suspects during this time period, are damning.

"These phone records can be a wormhole, but every now and then, they can be a treasure trove. The devil is in the details," Hagerman said.

The jury has, by Shelby County Judge Lee Coffee's calculations, 19 possible verdicts they could render, since there are multiple charges in the case.

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Lorenzen Wright: Jury deliberations begin in Billy Ray Turner trial