Closing arguments heard in slaying trial

Erica D. Johnson

Wednesday, April 16, 2003 | 10:03 a.m.

Attorneys prosecuting Vitaly Zakouto detailed for jurors the recipe for disaster they say culminated in the slaying of the man's estranged wife two years ago.

"What escalates a campaign of terror into a murderous rage?" Chief Deputy District Attorney Ed Kane asked.

The answer, he said, is in Zakouto and Marina Cannon's stormy marriage, which ended in a bitter divorce and Cannon's ultimate request for an annulment.

Zakouto, 53, was suffering financially at the time as a result of his failing business, he said.

"The fuse is lit and the fuse is burning," he said. "Mr. Zakouto is emotionally and financially destitute. And only one person in the world caused all that, and that is Marina Cannon."

Kane said Zakouto had stalked Cannon, 49, for six months leading up to her death and finally killed her in "the grip of unbridled passion and unlimited hatred."

But defense attorney William Terry told jurors that prosecutors had no forensic evidence to support their claims and had done little to prove their theory.

"All they have is an argument," he said. "They have no proof."

The closing statements in the case wrapped up a week of testimony before District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski. Jurors were expected to continue deliberating today.

Prosecutors allege Zakouto murdered Cannon on Dec. 23, 2000, in the home she shared with her father. She had been shot twice, beaten and had multiple stab wounds.

Zakouto faces multiple felony counts, including murder, aggravated stalking and burglary in the case.

Jurors last week watched taped testimony of Cannon as she described her turbulent relationship with Zakouto. The videotape was made when Cannon testified in Family Court proceedings.

Cannon had obtained a restraining order against Zakouto in April 2000.

Jurors also watched a surveillance tape prosecutors say shows Zakouto climbing into the house through a back window the night of the killing.

Cannon's grown sons, Jason and Damon Jaeger, testified that they could tell it was Zakouto depicted on the tape because of the way he walks and moves.

Terry, who maintains the person depicted on the tape is an intruder, claims the shadowy videotape should be the key to his client's acquittal.