Jurors this morning began deliberating the fates of Rodney Joseph Jr. and Ethan "Malu" Motta in a long-running criminal case that began more than five years ago with the fatal shootings of two men at the Pali Golf Course parking lot.

Joseph and Motta were first charged with murder in state court for allegedly killing Lepo Utu Taliese and Romilius Corpuz Jr. Jan. 7, 2004, in what authorities said was a dispute between rival groups providing protection to illegal gambling games.

Federal prosecutors in 2006 indicted the pair and another man, Kevin "Pancho" Gonsalves, as participants in a "racketeering enterprise" that used violent crimes including murder, robbery and extortion to control and grow the illegal business.

All three men entered guilty pleas to the federal charges last year in a plea agreement that called for them to receive up to 27.5 years behind bars.

But the pleas were withdrawn after U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway balked at approving the deals, saying she thought life sentences might be more appropriate for the offenses.

Gonsalves later pleaded guilty again and Mollway sentenced him to the original plea-bargained sentence of 27.5 years in prison.

But Motta and Gonsalves decided to go to trial, which began in late January and ended this morning.