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Defense rests in William Davis murder trial

Charged with kidnapping, raping and killing Fabiana Malave

William Davis.

The defense has rested in the trial for the man accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering a Seminole County teenager.

William Davis, 33, is charged with first-degree murder in the 2009 death of 19-year-old Fabiana Malave. The court will resume at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday with more testimony.

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Davis did not testify, but  in court Monday, attorneys for Davis played a recorded conversation between Davis and Seminole County deputies, where he told them about a "Dr. Paul" who forced him to kidnap and rape Malave by threatening Davis' girlfriend and his girlfriend's daughter.

During the recorded conversation, Davis also says that "Dr. Paul" told him to kill Malave, but he couldn't. When Davis left his bedroom to throw up, he returned to find that "Dr. Paul" had killed Malave, he said.

Defense attorneys for Davis are trying to build a temporary insanity defense. His attorneys say he wasn't talking his medication when he attacked Malave.

Davis met Malave at a Seminole County used car dealership, abducted her and took her to his Pine Hills home, where he raped her, according to authorities. Davis then strangled the teen and drove around with her body in the trunk of his car, police said.

A jury of 12 will determine Davis' fate. If guilty, Davis could be sentenced to death.

Watch Local 6 for more on this story.


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