North Miami motel murder trial heads to deliberations

MIAMI – Miami-Dade jurors began deliberating a verdict in the trial of Anthawn Ragan just before noon on Thursday. He’s accused of a 2013 murder at a North Miami motel.

Prosecutors said Ragan, now 30, shot and killed 21-year-old Luis Miguel Perez at a Motel Seven in November 2013.

He could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.

Ragan did not take the stand in the nearly week-long trial.

Prosecutors have argued that the shooting was a premeditated act, while defense attorneys ― trying to spare Ragan’s life ― argued there was no premeditation and the act was instead second-degree murder.

There are lesser included charges that they can consider as they deliberate Thursday.