EDGARD, La. — Defense attorneys rested their case Saturday for the penalty trial for Kyle Joekel, the man the jury found guilty of murdering two St. John Parish sheriff deputies in 2012 at a Laplace trailer park.
In court, Saturday, both victims' families and the defense families spoke about the shooting, and how it changed their lives
Family members of deputies Brandon Nielsen and Jeremy Triche spoke about losing their loved ones.
Neilsen's daughter spoke highly of her father and how much she misses him.
She got a tattoo on her finger as a way to remember him and would give anything to have dinner with her dad, she said.
Triche's parents told the court Jeremy grew up playing baseball. He was a catcher.
Jeremy's parents said he loved fishing. They also said he was a hard worker, and that he loved his job as a sheriff deputy, despite the dangers.
In court, Mike Triche, Jeremy's dad said they lived only yards away from where the shooting took place.
After both deputies families' spoke, Kyle Joekel's parents and sister spoke in court.
His sister, Katie Joekel Agena, mentioned Kyle looked up to her and wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll when they were kids.
Kyle's father, Ken Joekel, talked about Kyle's faith. He said Kyle knows the Bible well.
His mother, Doreen Joekel, spoke about Kyle's craftsmanship as a carpenter and how he basketball growing up.
Kyle's sister, Katie Agena, told the court that Kyle struggles with a drinking problem that started in high school.
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