GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KMOT/KFYR) - The case of State versus Nichole Rice is now in the hands of the jury.

The state and defense gave their closing arguments Tuesday.

Joe Skurzewski reports from the courthouse.

State Closing Argument

“In the early morning hours, June 3, 2007, Nichole Rice took this knife and plunged it into the chest of this girl and killed her,” said prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen, holding up pictures of Anita Knutson and the alleged murder weapon to the jury.

State Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen holding up pictures of Anita Knutson and the alleged murder... — State Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen holding up pictures of Anita Knutson and the alleged murder weapon to the jury during her closing arguments Tuesday.(KFYR News | none)

In closing arguments, prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen spent an hour-plus walking the jury through their case against Nichole Rice, like puzzle pieces, pointing to Rice discussing crime scene evidence she wouldn’t have been privy to if she wasn’t there.

“She told her aunt about the bowl in the bathroom sink and that the killer washed their hands and cleaned up the knife afterward,” said Sorgen.

Sorgen challenged the notion that the TV series Cold Justice influenced testimony from those who claimed Rice confessed the crime to them.

“If Kristina [Holler] was trying to import her information to what was learned through Cold Justice or to the evidence, wouldn’t she have said that bathroom was pink? She told you what she remembered the defendant telling her, that it was white,” said Sorgen.

Sorgen also pointed to Rice’s changing versions of what happened and the time frame around Knutson’s death.

“It is from that farm in Velva to Minot to the apartment, about 40 minutes. She had a window of opportunity of nine and a half hours,” Sorgen told the jury.

Defense Closing Argument

In closing for the defense, attorney Rick Sand offered a blistering critique of law enforcement and the prosecution, questioning their investigation and calling the case a ‘media circus.’

“Their own lead investigator, Det. [Carmen] Asham, told you guys she didn’t review the whole file. That’s not bad police work. That’s insane to bring charges when you haven’t reviewed a file. They’re trying to say, this is a puzzle with many pieces. No, it’s a murder case, and everybody in here deserves justice, Anita and Nicole, and this isn’t how you get it,” said Sand.

Defense Attorney Rick Sand offered harsh criticism of the state's case in his closing argument... — Defense Attorney Rick Sand offered harsh criticism of the state's case in his closing argument in the Nichole Rice murder trial.(KFYR News | none)

Sand challenged the claims over the window of time Rice had to commit the crime, and the believability that she could do it.

“They’re trying to use conjecture and hearsay to convince you guys that Nichole got out of bed in the middle of the night, drove to Minot, killed her roommate, scrubbed the scene of DNA. She’s this mastermind, mob hit killer. Goes back home, has the intestinal fortitude to just go on with life like it never happened. We’re talking about a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. This doesn’t happen. This is a load of crap,” said Sand.