Crime and Courts

Butte jury deliberating at 'Chicago Bob' murder trial

Posted: Oct 12, 2012 3:09 PM by Katy Harris KXLF News
Updated: Oct 12, 2012 3:51 PM

BUTTE - A jury began deliberating at a Butte murder trial today.

Jeremy Mata, 34, is on trial for the murder of 62-year-old Robert "Chicago Bob" Bajzer.
Bajzer was found stabbed to death on a Park Street sidewalk in February 2011.

The prosecution and defense had their closing arguments before the jury deliberated to reach a verdict at 1 p.m. Friday.

Defense attorney Steven Scott argued that the hat linking Mata to the crime scene showed no evidence of Bajzer's blood. The prosecution rebutted that there doesn't necessarily need to be blood on the hat to link Mata to the murder.

Earlier this week, a DNA specialist testified that a stain on the hat showed Mata's DNA.

"No blood on hat. No blood on the hat, not one speck," says Scott.

"Science helped develop a suspect because as Mr. Scott told you, Mr. Mata lived alone, Mr. Mata came from the state of Washington. Mr. Mata was not a suspect until science helped us make a case," prosecuting attorney Samm Cox said.