Testimony Wraps Up in Double Murder & Arson Trial

Scranton, Lackawanna County - After more than a week, testimony in the arson and double murder trial of William Woods has wrapped up in Lackawanna County.

The judge said he will announce his verdict on Thursday afternoon.

Family members of the two victims, Taevon and Michael Miles, say they are hoping for justice.

The young boys were both killed in July 2009, when prosecutors say Woods set fire to his former girlfriend's house.

"Thursday is going to be a beginning to an end but for me, it's never going to be over," mother Tyaisha Leary said. "It's the rest of my life. I'm supposed to be raising three children, watching them flourish, grow up, graduate."

As testimony wrapped up in the trial, the victim's family is hoping for a guilty verdict.

"I'm hoping that the judge uses the facts, use the facts," grandmother Dorean Davis said.

On Tuesday, prosecutors rested their case, the defense called only one witness and both sides gave their closing arguments.

Woods' attorneys said the case was circumstantial and relied on witnesses who saw him near the fire scene.

Prosecutors say Woods was the only one with the means, motive and opportunity to set the deadly blaze.

"There was no other person of interest that was shown, either through our investigation or in the arguments of the defense," District Attorney Andy Jarbola said.

Woods did not take the stand.

In court Tuesday, he considered the idea but in the end told the judge he wasn't going to because, according to Woods, the judge already had his decision made up.

Tyaisha Leary wasn't surprised.

"Typical him. No respect and how he treats people and talks to people where he doesn't care," Leary said. "Your life is on the line and you would speak to a judge that way? It doesn't make sense!"

The verdict is expected to be announced by Judge Thomas Munley at 1:00 PM on Thursday.

If convicted, Woods faces the possibility of life in prison.