FERGUS FALLS — Closing arguments have been made in the trial of two men accused of smuggling migrants across the border between Manitoba and Minnesota.
Prosecutor Michael McBride told the jury Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel cared more about money than people's lives, and sent migrants out walking for hours in deadly weather.
A lawyer for Patel told the jury the accused has been wrongly identified and is not the same person that was calling and texting about the trips in phone records produced by the government. Patel would stay in Florida or nearby states, organizing things, while Shand would fly to Minneapolis, drive to areas near the border and pick people up after they had crossed from Canada, the prosecution said.
Earlier Thursday, the jury was presented with phone, banking and other information that the prosecution says shows the two accused frequently discussed plans to sneak people across the border. Under cross-examination by Shand's lawyer, Lopez said cell records, which are based on towers used, offer a general location and cannot offer pinpoint accuracy."You don't know who actually possessed the cellphone at any given time, correct?" Aaron Morrison asked.The trial in Fergus Falls, Minn., also heard Thursday from two forensic pathologists, who testified the family found dead along the border died from hypothermia.
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