The seven women – five men jury should have the murder case of Andrew Condon in its hands to decide today (Thursday). Closing arguments in the Iroquois County murder trial will be delivered after a final witness testifies in the Watseka courtroom of Judge Gordon Lustfeldt.

The 36-year-old Condon took the stand in his own defense (Wednesday) The rural Ashkum man told the court he 'was upset, but did not even threaten Rubin at the Gilman gas station in 2012 and when asked by defense attorney Greg Morgan, 'did you shoot Jonathan Rubin,' Condon loudly replied, "No, I swear by my children's lives..."

Condon's been jailed in Watseka since his arrest in November of 2012. He pleaded 'not guilty' when accused of killing the gas station clerk.

Prosecutors say the murder was over a pack of cigarettes Rubin refused to sell to Condon because Condon didn't have an ID.

Condon told the jury he wasn't entirely honest with police during a recorded interview with investigators. He says he was scared and felt like they were zeroing in on him. When asked by Prosecutors why the jury should believe him now, after he admitted he lied to authorities, Condon said he was now under oath and that's the difference.

Condon admitted to being rude and obnoxious and a little buzzed after drinking, but he wasn't that angry at Rubin. He told the jury that he was more upset at the other man in the gas station... that was Jamie Pointer, who Condon said "disrespected me."

Out of desperation, Condon admitted to writing a letter to Pointer asking the potential witness to make a statement that he didn't tell the jury Condon had threatened the clerk. Pointer was a state witness, testifying to the argument he had with Condon at the gas station the night of the murder.

Condon told the jury he was scared when authorities questioned him because that was the first time he had been in, what he called serious trouble, with the law. Prosecutors revealed Condon had been arrested several times, including the day he was questioned.

94.1 WGFA