Prosecutor completes closing argument in Burton murder trial

The prosecutor in Michael Burton's murder trial delivered a 40-minute closing argument this morning in West Valley Superior Court, urging jurors to find the Pasadena firefighter guilty of murdering his wife.

Deputy District Attorney Michele Daly told jurors that Burton, 48, lied in wait with a samurai sword for his estranged wife to arrive at the couple's Rancho Cucamonga home.

When Otilia Burton, 35, came home the morning of July 16, 2006, Burton murdered her by stabbing her repeatedly with a samurai sword, Daly said.

She dismissed Burton's claims during his testimony Monday that he was defending himself from his wife's attack. Burton, Daly told jurors, "(is) playing games with us in terms of telling us exactly how it happened."

Burton's defense attorney, Winston McKesson, is set to give his closing argument at 1 p.m. today, then Daly will have an opportunity to give a rebuttal. The jury will begin deliberations after that.