The defense has rested its case in the murder trial of Allen Andrade, accused of killing his girlfriend, transgender woman Angie Zapata, in July 2008.

Closing arguments are scheduled for this morning and the jury is expected to get the case around noon. The Zapata family has said they will talk to the press half an hour after a verdict is delivered.

According to a 9News report at the time and an affadavit filled out by Andrade, he panicked after discovering that she was biologically a man:

“That night, Andrade questioned Zapata directly, according to theaffidavit, and Andrade says Zapata responded, ‘I'm all woman.' Andradetold police he grabbed Zapata in her genital area and felt a penis. Hebecame angry and hit Zapata with his fist before grabbing a fireextinguisher and hitting her in the head twice, according to theaffidavit. Andrade explained to police that he thought he ‘killed it,'referring to Zapata but when she made gurgling noises and started tosit up, he hit her with the extinguisher again. He also admitted topolice that he stole Zapata's car and drove away.”

The Denver Channel reports: “The defense called five witnesses, with Andrade declining to testify. Bradley Martin, an attorney for Allen Andrade, downplayed commentsAndrade made in recorded jail conversations, including that ‘all gaythings must die.'…'Looking at the context, it could be shown that it was said in a joking manner,' Martin argued.Prosecutors say Andrade knew for 36 hours that Zapata was biologicallymale and beat her to death with a fire extinguisher out of his dislikefor homosexuals. Andrade's attorneys argue Zapata deceived him, andthat he snapped when he discovered she was a man.”

Autumn Sandeen has been following the case closely from Greeley over at Pam's House Blend. A CNN summation of the case posted on Monday, AFTER THE JUMP…