ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The defense in the John Jonchuck trial rested its case Thursday afternoon. 

Closing arguments did not start right away, however. Shortly after the defense rested, the state called a rebuttal witness.

 

The state could call additional rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments begin. 

Jonchuck's attorneys are trying to prove he was insane when he dropped his 5-year-old daughter Phoebe off the approach of the Skyway Bridge to her death on January 8, 2015. 

Dr. Michael Maher, a defense witness, testified Thursday he feels Jonchuck meets the criteria for insanity, including lack of understanding of the consequences of his actions.  

If found guilty by reason of insanity, he would likely spend the rest of his life in a mental institution. However, if jurors don't agree with the defense, then Jonchuck, 29, could go to prison for the rest of his life. 

The defense testimony came after a juror was dismissed earlier in the day. That happened when Judge Chris Helinger discovered that the juror lived in Pasco County, not Pinellas County. That juror apparently recently moved to the Trinity area in Pinellas.

The move had been brought up previously but Helinger admittedly said she thought part of Trinity was in Pinellas County. 

"You’ve been a very attentive, you’ve been a great juror," she told the juror. "I’ve watched you take notes. I think you are a fabulous juror but as opposed to invite a problem, I have to let you go."

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