Gonzalez guilty in Warwick murder trial

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) -- A local murder trial has at last reached its conclusion.

After a two-week-long, emotionally-charged trial, a Warwick jury found Tony Gonzalez guilty on all counts. Seventeen witnesses were called to the stand and it took the jury only two hours to reach a verdict.

"Justice. It's finally over. I knew Carl was right there, I knew he was in the room with us," said the victim's father Carl Cunningham Sr.

Cunningham Sr. said he hopes that Gonzalez is sentenced to life in prison, for the lifetime that they will have to live without their heart and soul.

Investigators say Gonzalez showed up to his ex-girlfriend's apartment to confront her new boyfriend, and left after killing her friend, Carl Cunningham Jr.

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The defense put in a request for a mistrial, but was denied. During their closing argument Monday, the defense reiterated a point they have been making since the trial began, in that the prosecution's witnesses aren't believable.

Gonzalez's ex-girlfriend, Patricia Dalomba, pointed to him as the shooter during the 911 call the night of Cunningham's death and while on the stand this week. The defense claims that she's had three different versions of the story.

The state rested their case on Friday with an alleged conversation involving Jimmy Hutchins, a friend of Cunningham's who knew Gonzalez. While in a holding cell on the eve of the trial, Hutchins said he asked Gonzalez if he shot Carl Cunningham, but he didn't get the answer he was looking for. The defense has questioned Hutchins' credibility because he has a criminal record.

The defense urged the jury to return with a "not guilty" verdict, saying the state did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.