COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) — After two weeks of testimony, deliberation is now underway in the dual-jury trial of two men accused of murdering a pregnant woman and dumping her body in a Coventry pond. On the morning of Dec. 21, 2022, a fisherman planning to angle at Carbuncle Pond spotted the body of a young woman submerged below the surface. She was later identified as 34-year-old Leila Duarte Da Luz. Nearly a year later, Gary Gromkiewicz, 37, and Michael Lambert, 47, were indicted on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with Da Luz's death. Pictured: Leila Duarte Da Luz Investigators determined she died from a combination of blunt force injuries and drowning, ruling her death a homicide. According to prosecutors, Da Luz was an immigrant from Cape Verde who came to the United States with hopes and dreams, which were brutally torn away from her. At the time of her death, she was eight to ten weeks pregnant with Gromkiewicz's child. BACKGROUND: Suspects plead not guilty in Coventry murder of pregnant woman Due to the complexity of the case, the ongoing trial features two juries—one for each defendant. To convict Gromkiewicz and Lambert, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they acted with malice and premeditation to cause Da Luz’s death and that they intentionally conspired to carry out the crime. Courtesy: Rhode Island State Police Although presence at the scene of a crime is a factor, prosecutors said it is insufficient evidence to warrant a conviction. According to the judge, both verdicts must be received simultaneously; whichever jury reaches a verdict first, must wait until the other is ready before they can be delivered. Closing arguments: Gromkiewicz Prosecution During Thursday's closing arguments, Prosecutor Stephen Dambruch recounted forensic evidence showing that Da Luz was violently assaulted, transported in a Jeep, and dumped in Carbuncle Pond. "She was well-educated. She had dreams. She had aspirations. She had hopes. But they were snuffed out during the early morning hours of December 21st," Dambruch said. The two men allegedly communicated about plotting to kill her and cover their tracks, which was corroborated by digital data and witness testimony. "I’m not asking you to speculate. I’m asking you to look at the evidence," Dambruch said. "We have direct evidence, testimony, video, cellular … even if it is circumstantial, if you find it reliable, that’s enough to convict." Dambruch noted that Gromkiewicz and Lambert have known each other for 20 years and worked together with Da Luz at a factory. Gromkiewicz allegedly asked Lambert to help carry out the murder. While Gromkiewicz claimed he tried to contact Da Luz after police informed him that she was missing, phone records show otherwise, according to Dambruch. Instead, he contacted Lambert using his girlfriend's son's phone and made incriminating Google searches such as "Can someone track my location if I turn my phone off?" Photograph of Google search history found on a phone confiscated from Gary Gromkiewicz. RELATED: Google searches, call logs examined in murder suspects’ joint trial In his statement, Gromkiewicz alleged that Lambert told him he had "pistol-whipped" Da Luz, but Dambruch dismissed this, saying Gromkiewicz was describing his own involvement in the crime. "The best lies always contain a kernel of truth," Dambruch added. Dambruch pointed to multiple inconsistencies in Gromkiewicz's statements, saying they were "riddled with lies," and urged the jury to hold him accountable for his actions. Gromkiewicz reportedly began sobbing at the end, which Dambruch dismissed as "crocodile tears." Defense Gromkiewicz’s attorney, Melissa Larsen, painted a different picture, pinning the blame on Lambert and arguing that Gromkiewicz had no involvement in Da Luz's murder. Pictured: Leila Duarte Da Luz "This was a heinous and tragic crime, but after two weeks of testimony ... the state is relying on purely circumstantial evidence," Larsen said. "The state has failed to prove [Gary] murdered [Leila] and conspired." Larsen claimed the evidence overwhelmingly points to Lambert as the sole perpetrator. She argued that Lambert’s phone records placed him at Carbuncle Pond, highlighting Lambert's history of violence and the fact he was on parole at the time of Da Luz's death. READ: Medical examiner testifies in Carbuncle Pond murder trial According to Larsen, there was no DNA, murder weapon, eyewitnesses or confession connecting Gromkiewicz to the crime — only circumstantial evidence. She dismissed the state’s claim that Gromkiewicz had a motive to kill Da Luz, arguing instead that he was excited to be a father. Larsen pointed to testimony from Gromkiewicz’s sister and Da Luz’s friend, who described him as happy about the pregnancy. Gary Gromkiewicz is not a perfect man, but he's not a murderer," Larsen concluded, asking the jury to find her client not guilty on all counts. Closing arguments: Lambert State In his closing argument for Lambert’s jury, Dambruch said Lambert worked closely with Gromkiewicz to plan and execute the murder. He reiterated their coordinated movements leading up to Da Luz's death and the steps they allegedly took after the fact. Dambruch disputed the defense’s claim that the evidence was circumstantial, noting that Da Luz’s DNA was found on both sides of the cargo area in the Jeep. He also pointed out Lambert's suspicious behavior during that time. From when the two men went to Buttonwoods together on Dec. 19, 2022, to when Da Luz's body was found in Carbuncle Pond on Dec. 21, 2022, Dambruch said there's a clear pattern of coordination. Phone data presented in court during trial "They were talking with each other, texting with each other, or together with each other throughout that timeframe," Dambruch explained. "They were doing so with a common goal and design: to take, first to plan, the taking of the life of Leila, secondly to actually go about killing her, and then finally, an attempt to cover their tracks." MORE: Sneaker, cellphone data examined at trial of men charged with killing pregnant woman He also argued that Lambert turned off Google location services on his phone and kept the Jeep’s lights off as he and Gromkiewicz drove around the state to dispose of evidence, including the Jeep’s cargo mat, which was eventually recovered from the water by investigators. Dambruch concluded by saying the evidence established that Gromkiewicz and Lambert are both equally involved and responsible for the murder and they conspired together to commit the act. Defense Michael Lambert’s attorney, Kara Manosh, countered the state’s argument by claiming Gromkiewicz had a plan from the start and Lambert was used as the "perfect fall guy." According to Manosh, Lambert just thought he would make some money, and didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. Photo: Police questioning Michael Lambert She also refuted the timeline of events presented by the state and said the absence of a crime scene in Warwick, where Da Luz was allegedly attacked, and the lack of blood in the Jeep supported the argument that Gromkiewicz acted alone. "This was done by one person and one person only," Manosh said. Manosh added that Lambert's actions after the fact don't prove guilt for murder, but rather the fear and panic of being framed, calling them "self-preservation techniques." She concluded by saying Lambert is not guilty and that prosecutors have brought "nothing but maybe" to the case, failing to connect him to the crime. TARGET 12: Court documents provide timeline of 2022 murder of pregnant woman Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW