Jury Begins Deliberations in Fairhaven Murder Case

Closing arguments were made Tuesday in the murder trial of a New Bedford man charged with killing a retired Fairhaven teacher.

Gregg Miliote, spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney's office, says Judge Robert Kane sent the case of 38-year-old Joshua Silva of New Bedford to the jury for deliberations Tuesday afternoon in the Fall River Justice Center. The jury deliberated for nearly two hours before the court closed for the day. They are expected to continue deliberations Wednesday morning.

Silva is charged with armed robbery and murder in connection to the October 2013 slaying of 69-year-old Joyce Howland.

The defense claims the evidence in the case is circumstantial.