NY trial of model who killed, castrated Portuguese reporter nears end

"Most people fleeing from a crime don't dress for the occasion," Touger said. "They just flee."

Seabra was found by police at a Manhattan hospital where he had checked in under his real name after arriving by taxi, further evidence, Touger said, that he had not even thought of fleeing.

But Maxine Rosenthal, the lead prosecutor, told jurors this was Seabra's "Plan B", describing him as an opportunist who was "playing the role of the loving boyfriend" to exploit Castro's wealth and connections.

Castro, who met Seabra through Facebook, was a gay-rights activist and journalist, writing about fashion and society for Diario de Noticias, 24 Horas and Correio de Manha. As their relationship dissolved into fierce arguments during their stay in New York, Seabra became enraged, she told the jury.

After killing Castro, Seabra disconnected the room phone, dismantled Castro's cellphone, and put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door as he left to buy him more time, she said. He took with him about $1,600 from Castro's wallet and their flight itinerary, fully intending to flee, she said.

"That shows presence of mind, it is deliberate action and is inconsistent with delusion," she said. As he left, Seabra saw in the lobby a close friend of Castro's who had arrived worried after her friend failed to respond to numerous phone calls that day.

He then realized the body would be discovered sooner than he had hoped, Rosenthal said, and was ashamed to think his mother and friends would discover he had been having sex with men.

"He is thinking of Plan B, and what is that plan? 'Take me to a hospital,'" she said.

Seabra has been absent from hearings for more than a week. His lawyers said they could not disclose why. His mother and Castro's sister attended the hearing, sitting on opposite sides of the courtroom.

... contd.

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