D.A. Billy West: Mario McNeill Went on a Booty Call the Night Shaniya Davis was Raped and Killed

Closing Arguments began on Tuesday to determine Mario McNeill's fate in Cumberland County's courtroom 4A for the US vs. Mario McNeill trial.

McNeill is facing several charges that include first-degree child rape and human trafficking of five-year old Shaniya Davis, that could end in the death penalty if convicted.

Starting the Tuesday's trial off, the mantra that Cumberland County's D.A. Billy West used with each point he made in his closing statements was: 'Justice found a way'.

"Justice found a way based on the cell phone analysis that the defendant was on his phone," said West. "Justice found a way that when the police went back to the hotel room, a dirty washcloth was thrown out, but the comforter with a pubic hair was still there where he savagely raped a little girl."

"All that is innocent, all that is pure was taken from her and her life was taken from her to satisfy his own selfish sexual gratification. He was jacked up on cocaine and he was going to get a booty call from somebody that night, and had no regard for taking the innocence and life of that little girl," said West."We have proven everything that we said we would prove, beyond a reason of a doubt."

"This is a pubic hair with mitochondrial evidence. Justice found a way," repeated West. "That number moves to 100% and we all know that. He and Shaniya Davis were in room 201 and that it's his DNA on that pubic hair."

"There was a microscopic piece of soil on the shoulder of the road where Shaniya Davis was dumped on Nov 10, 2009 and it was identical in shape, size and chemical composition that was found on the defendant's gas pedal," said West." Justice found a way."

West went on to prove that it's evident that after McNeill leaves that hotel he goes to Walker Road, asphyxiates her and stashes her body under a log where she was not visible.

"His own lawyer told the police where to find the body in that area. His cell phone analysis and soil sample analysis puts him there during that time frame," said West. "He comes back to Fayetteville and denies to family members and the police and gives a story that has been proven completely and totally untrue."

West reminded the jury that it's difficult to recover DNA after 72 hours and it was 144 hours later when it was tested. West told the jury he was going to say it straight and claimed that McNeill went on a 'booty call' after making several cell phone calls from his contact list while he admittedly had already been drinking and using marijuana before becoming 'skiied up' on cocaine in the hotel room in Sanford with the little girl.

During West's closing arguments, Mario McNeill listened attentively once grabbing a small notepad and pen and appeared to be writing something down and continued to doodle. He wore a white cotton collared shirt with his hair neatly tied back in one pony tail down his back. The courtroom was full on both sides to witness the final outcome of the high profile case.

"There is strong circumstantial evidence, that the child was sexually assaulted before she ever left Sleepy Hollow," said West. "But there is a gap, why?"

West went onto further explain the timeline again to the jury using the multi-media presentation screen to talk about the timeline of alleged events that took place that night in November 2009.

For updates throughout the week, follow Fort Bragg Patch on Twitter and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter.