Closing statements Tuesday in trial of man accused of killing Detroit synagogue leader after more than 3 weeks of testimony

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Closing statements are set to be delivered Tuesday in the trial of Michael Jackson-Bolanos, the Detroit man charged with killing synagogue leader Samantha Woll.

Jackson-Bolanos returned to the witness stand Monday after first taking the stand in his own defense last Wednesday, with prosecutors questioning him about the night in 2023 that Woll was slain in her east side Detroit home.

Last week Jackson-Bolanos told jurors that he was in Woll's neighborhood on Oct. 21, looking for unlocked cars and items to steal. But he said he did not kill her.

He said he saw Woll's body lying on the ground, and initially did not know if it was a man or woman. He testified that he then approached and touched the person's neck to see if they were OK, and that's how he got blood on his jacket .

Jackson-Bolanos said he didn't call 911 because he'd been engaging in illegal activity, and police would've wanted to know what he was doing in that neighborhood.

As he was questioned by defense attorney Brian Brown, Jackson-Bolanos repeatedly denied killing Woll, or having a weapon on him that night.

"What I'm out there doing, I don't need no conflict, no confrontation with anybody," he said.

On Monday, Jackson-Bolanos faced cross-examination from Wayne County prosecutors, who accused him of lying to police.

He said he lied to police in the fall of 2023 about what he was doing that night because "has a history" of breaking into cars and he didn't want to get into trouble for doing so that night.

Investigators believe Jackson-Bolanos attacked Woll inside her home in the early morning hours of Oct. 21, 2023, before she stumbled outside onto the sidewalk. A trail of blood was found from Woll's front door, which was left ajar, to the spot where a neighbor found her body.

Jackson-Bolanos, who is in his late 20s, is charged with first-degree murder and home invasion. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Closing arguments are scheduled for the first thing Tuesday morning and the jury is expected to begin deliberations later in the day.