AUBURN -- Closing arguments will be heard Thursday in the trial of a 45-year-old Canton man charged in the rape and murder of a call center co-worker who was eight months pregnant.

Prosecutors and Richard Dwyer's attorney rested their cases Wednesday in Androscoggin County Superior Court. Dwyer did not testify during the three-day trial.

Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese spent part of Wednesday linking Dwyer to 38-year-old Donna Paradis through DNA evidence, along with items found near site where her body was buried.

Dwyer's attorney presented testimony suggesting that someone other than Dwyer was responsible, and that the crime scene may been contaminated by people walking in the area.

Paradis' body was found buried in a shallow grave in Lewiston last November about three weeks after she disappeared.