Both defense attorney Chris Bergstrom and Ingham County Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Dewane gave their closing arguments for McCowan’s murder trial Monday in Ingham County Circuit Court. The jury began its deliberations and will decide whether McCowan is guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.

McCowan was charged with open murder after a text messaging argument regarding how Singler was treating his girlfriend, McCowan’s sister Shay McCowan, turned into a struggle the morning of Feb. 23.

The two fought in the doorway of Singler’s apartment in Meridian Township, with testimony showing Singler threw the first punch. Singler later died of multiple stab wounds to his chest and arm.

Dewane said a gray area lies between Singler’s actions and McCowan’s retaliation.

“The defendant doesn’t deny he used his knife to kill Andrew Singler,” Dewane said to the jury Monday. “He doesn’t deny Andrew died as a result of multiple stab wounds. Those facts are not disputed … the only issue that needs to be decided is what occurred in that 15 to 20 seconds in between.”

To be convicted of first-degree murder, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III said the jury must judge whether McCowan devoted “real and substantial reflection” to his decision to stab Singler. A second-degree murder verdict would show McCowan intended to inflict harm on Singler but did not premeditate his murder. Voluntary manslaughter would reflect a “crime of passion.”

In the two years Singler dated Shay McCowan, he and Connor McCowan forged a bond of brotherly proportions. Connor McCowan testified last week that he looked up to Singler as a role model, but often mediated between Singler and his sister when the couple fought.

Because of their close relationship, Bergstrom said it does not make sense for Connor McCowan to possess the intent to kill Singler.

“Andrew became Connor’s big brother,” Bergstrom said Monday. “It just simply defies common sense with what we know about relationships, where the little brother is going to go over and kill his big brother.”

Throughout the trial, the defense has depicted Connor McCowan as a victim of Singler’s attack, who reacted out of self-defense. He testified last week that Singler punched him two to three times before he struck back, causing a struggle between the two.

A cluster of small bruises on Singler’s neck show the two came to blows before Singler was stabbed. But Dewane said McCowan’s minor injuries — a bruise above his left eyebrow — did not warrant stabbing Singler.

“If anyone has a self defense claim, it’s Andrew Singler, when (Connor) shows up to his apartment with a knife,” Dewane said. “Andrew may have expected a fistfight — he didn’t expect the defendant to be there armed with a knife.”

McCowan potentially could face life in prison.

Staff reporter Simon Schuster contributed to this report.