Closing arguments set in UNC student murder trial

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 12:20 · Archive

Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, accused of killing University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012. Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old sophomore, was beaten to death in her off-campus Chapel Hill apartment in September 2012. Salguero Olivares was arrested nine years later after a DNA sample provided during a driving-while-intoxicated stop matched evidence from the crime scene. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, rape and burglary charges.

Testimony began on 7 October following eight days of jury selection. Nearly two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, including Hedgepeth's roommate and other friends, crime scene technicians, law enforcement and a DNA expert. Salguero Olivares did not testify and his attorneys rested their case without calling any witnesses.

Early testimony focused on Hedgepeth's last night alive. Her roommate Karena Rosario testified that she and Hedgepeth returned home from a club around 2 a.m. Rosario was drunk and sick; she called a friend to pick her up and went out again, leaving Hedgepeth in the apartment alone. Rosario returned hours later to find Hedgepeth's body. An autopsy showed Hedgepeth suffered extensive skull fractures and cuts to her face and head, and was badly beaten on her arms and legs.

How it is being reported

• Closing arguments set in trial of man accused of killing UNC student in 2012Closing arguments are expected in the trial of a man accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 05:02
• Closing arguments set in trial of man accused of killing UNC student in 2012Closing arguments are expected in the trial of a man accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 05:02

In this story: Miguel Salguero Olivares · Faith Hedgepeth · University of North Carolina · Karena Rosario · Chapel Hill · Durham

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