Heriberto Viramontes has been found guilty on all counts in the April 2010 savage baseball bat attack on Irish woman Natasha McShane and her friend Stacy Jurich.
Natasha McShane and Stacy Jurich were studying at the University of Illinois at Chicago, when they were beaten unconscious under a viaduct in in Bucktown on April 23, 2010.
In their closing argument in the case on Thursday, the prosecution described the accused as “every parent’s nightmare.”
Prosecutors claim Viramontes targeted Natasha McShane and Stacy Jurich, after seeing the pair walking home after a night out.
Viramontes declined the opportunity to testify in his own defense.
McShane, now 27, ended up in a coma for several weeks and is unable to talk or walk unassisted.
The jury began their deliberations early Thursday afternoon, after almost two weeks of testimony.
During the trial Natasha’s mother Shelia McShane testified how her once vibrant daughter used to be a good sketch artist, but now only scribbles. Jurors saw a video of the young Irish woman struggling to take a sip of water.
The second victim, Jurich testified against Viramontes, although her injuries were not as serious as her friends, she told the court she still suffers from intense headaches and vision loss. She described the attack saying she “felt excruciating pain” after she heard the sound of the bat striking her head.
The defense claims Viramontes is a victim of mistaken identity.
Here is a snapshot of IrishCentral’s coverage of the case since the attack occurred in April 2010.
April 2010
Beaten in Chicago - Natasha McShane now unable to speak or walk
May 2010
Baseball bat attack victim Natasha McShane out of coma, still very ill
Irish student Natasha McShane out of coma, says family
June 2010
Natasha McShane speaks her first words since baseball bat attack
Natasha McShane’s family overwhelmed by Chicago’s support
July 2010
Hospital bills create hardship for Natasha McShane’s family
Natasha McShane’s miraculous recovery at home in Ireland
November 2010
Chicago attack victim Natasha McShane contracts super-bug
April 2011
Irish Woman beaten with baseball bat in Chicago not recovering
April 2012
Beaten in Chicago - Natasha McShane now unable to speak or walk
Irish politicians respond to Natasha McShane’s brutal Chicago beating
July 2013
Marcy Cruz sentenced to 22-years for attack that left Natasha McShane close to death
October 2013
Natasha McShane’s family living a ‘nightmare’ as Heriberto Viramontes’ trial begins
Natasha McShane's mother tells court she can barely speak after baseball bat attack
Natasha McShane’s family refuse to hate her Chicago attacker
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