BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Luis Palafox, 18, was awaiting his fate Monday evening. Palafox is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Joe and Dorothy Parrott.

The case was handed over to the jury Monday afternoon after 2 1/2 hours of closing arguments by the prosecution and the defense.

Palafox and his uncle, Kyle Hoffman, 18, are accused of breaking into the Parrott's Durham Court home two years ago. The couple were found a few days later dead in their bedroom.

Hoffman had admitted to detectives before that he and Palafox had been smoking marijuana all day and were looking to steal items to sell for drug money.

During closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney David Zulfa made several points to the jury, saying, "Palafox and Hoffman had the choice to make, leave or kill, and they chose to kill."

Zulfa also pointed out that after the killings Palafox was arrested after running from a stolen car and a knife was found on him. That knife, Zulfa said, was found to have had Joe Parrott's blood on it.

In the defense's closing argumets, attorney Michael Lukehart argued that there was a discrepancy in evidence gathering and that evidence had been mislabeled.

He also reiterated to the jury that none of the evidence presented in court placed Palafox at the scene.

Closing arguments ended around 11:30 a.m. After lunch, Judge John Somers gave the jury final instructions before they were escorted out of the courtroom to deliberate.

Deliberations will continue Tuesday.

Hoffman will also be in court Tuesday for closing arguments. A separate jury is seated for Hoffman, who also faces two counts of first-degree murder.