BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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COURTLAND—Closing arguments in the trial of murder suspect Rasheed Brown will be held Monday, March 12, in Southampton County Circuit Court.

The prosecution rested Friday and lawyers for Brown presented no evidence in the 22-year-old Franklin man’s defense for allegedly killing Darrin Lee, 28.

Recognizing that lengthy deliberations might follow and prove uncomfortable for all concerned, Judge J. Warren Stephens said the “prudent thing to do” would be to recess until Monday morning.

Brown was one of six charged with first-degree murder after Lee was kidnapped and shot to death on Oct. 7, 2010, in an alleged robbery gone wrong at Southampton Meadows Mobile Home Park. Lee lived in the trailer park.

During cross-examination, Brown’s attorney, Stephanie Pass, insistently questioned witness Darrin Robinson about the accuracy and truthfulness of his recollection to Sheriff’s Office Investigator J.L. Ricks of events on the night in question.

Further, Pass accused Robinson, who’s also accused of first-degree murder, of “wanting a better deal” to speak against Brown.

Cooke noted that no motivation existed for Robinson to do so.

Defense attorney Michael Fasanaro Jr. said that all the testimony heard and seen so far is “contradictory at best,” and he reminded the court it has the right to dismiss the case and made a motion to strike; Stephens dismissed such a proposal.