State rests case in ND murder-for-hire case

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Prosecutors have wrapped up their case against an Oklahoma City man accused of killing a Fargo dentist in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme.

Michael Nakvinda is on trial in North Dakota court for the October 2009 slaying of Philip Gattuso. Authorities believe Gattuso's father-in-law, Gene Kirkpatrick, paid Nakvinda $3,000 for the hit.

The state's final witness was Nakvinda's mother, Edith Wade. She testified Tuesday that on the weekend Gattuso was killed, Nakvinda told her he was going to Louisiana to work on a house that was damaged in Hurricane Katrina.

Defense attorney Steven Mottinger said in his opening statement that Nakvinda was framed by Kirkpatrick and wasn't in Fargo when Gattuso was killed. Mottinger called his first witness on Tuesday afternoon.

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