Defense rests in ‘cannibal cop’ trial; closing arguments set for Thursday

Gilberto Valle is on trial for allegedly plotting to kidnap, kill and eat women. (Facebook)

The former cop who is on trial for allegedly plotting to kidnap, kill and eat women was in tears on Tuesday after the defense rested its case after one day. Gilberto Valle also refused to testify in his own defense, The New York Times reported.

Prosecutors presented to jurors last week a series of Internet chats, emails and graphic images pulled from Valle’s computer revealing his plans to kidnap women, torture them and eat them. The women included his own estranged wife, Kathleen Mangan Valle, and old college friends, who took the stand last week.

The defense attorneys have stated that there is not enough evidence that Valle intended to carry out any of these plans and that he was merely fantasizing. They presented Tuesday a videotaped testimony from an operator of one of the websites Valle used. Sergey Merenkov explained that he created the site for people with all types of fetishes, and thousands of users visit the site each week.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday. Valle faces life in prison if he is convicted.