Closing arguments conclude in the murder trial of a 14-year-old accused of killing his aunt

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The state and defense presented their closing arguments Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of Ares Adle, who allegedly stabbed his aunt Tonya Harper to death in 2019.

Ares was 14 years old at the time of his aunt's murder.

Although Ares confessed to the crime, his defense team argued that he did not plan the crime. Prosecutors claim the opposite, saying that's exactly what he did.

During closing arguments, as autopsy and crime scene photos of her final moments were shown, there were piercing cries of pain and grief from Tonya Harpers' family.

“What would be Tonya Harper's last words: 'I think it was Ares,'” the prosecutor said. “What he didn’t expect was that Tonya would identify him.”

On February 1, 2019, Ares allegedly stabbed his aunt to death in the middle of the night while she was sleeping. The family was in town for a reunion at their home in Sun Lakes, south of Chandler.

Because he was charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors must prove there was premeditation — and they claim the evidence is overwhelming.

“He had a plan in place, a detailed plan, and he executed every step of that plan. “He knew he wanted to kill Tonya, but he also knew he had to walk away,” the prosecutor said.

The state presented evidence that Ares cut 13 telephone lines, including the intercom, in the home. They also showed that he had hidden some of his aunts' cell phones and the bloody knife with Tonya's blood on it in his bedroom closet.

Prosecutors said that given these measures, Ares knew no one would be able to call for help quickly enough for Tonya to survive.

But what no one has been able to prove is a motive. The defense agreed to it.

“If they can't prove motive, they can't prove desire, and if they can't prove desire, they can't prove intent,” the defense attorney said.

Prosecutors said that in a non-crime case like this, motive wasn't important and they didn't have to prove it.

“Motive is the why, intent is the how.” “(The) state doesn't have to prove the why, but (the) state has to prove the how,” the prosecutor said.

Ares took the stand on Monday, claiming he felt threatened and scared by a comment from his aunt.

“What did he admit on the witness stand? “He admitted manslaughter,” said his defense attorney. “One of you on this panel has to say that I cannot convict him of first-degree murder.”

The prosecutors had the final say with the jury.

“The evidence points to first-degree premeditated murder – the defendant killed his aunt,” the prosecutor said passionately.

The jury will return to court at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to begin deliberations.

Now we're waiting for a verdict, which could be first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

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