A jury has begun deliberating in the murder trial of Steven Schwallis, the man accused of driving drunk into a Deer Park nail salon nearly two years ago, killing four people and injuring nine others in one of Long Island's most devastating traffic incidents.
Closing arguments wrapped up with prosecutors presenting evidence that Schwallis had a blood alcohol content of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. They played body camera footage and surveillance video they say shows him inside a liquor store on the day of the crash.
The defense mounted an unusual argument, claiming that Schwallis's leg locked up behind the wheel and that he was not actually intoxicated at the time of the crash. His attorney went further with a striking accusation against law enforcement.
According to the defense, Schwallis consented to give blood but investigators chose not to test that sample because a highway officer had indicated he was not intoxicated. Instead, they obtained hospital blood, and the defense alleges police officers tampered with the chain of custody.
Schwallis faces up to twenty-five years to life in prison if convicted. The case has drawn significant attention from the community, with families of the victims attending every day of the trial.
The crash devastated the Deer Park community when Schwallis's vehicle ploughed into the busy nail salon during business hours. First responders described the scene as one of the worst they had ever encountered.
The jury must now weigh the prosecution's evidence of intoxication against the defense's claims of mechanical failure and evidence tampering. A verdict could come at any time as deliberations continue behind closed doors.