After weeks of gripping testimony in Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York, the courtroom proceedings have come to an end, with prosecutors calling 20 witnesses to the stand. In contrast, the defense presented just two witnesses in its case, and notably, Trump himself opted not to testify. The trial now enters the final stage with closing arguments scheduled for Tuesday, after which the decision will ultimately rest with the 12 jurors.

The crucial question that stands before the jurors is whether prosecutors have been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified his company's business records in order to suppress stories about his alleged marital infidelity during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

The outcome of the trial is likely to hinge on the jurors' interpretations of the testimony presented, as well as their assessment of witness credibility. The evidence at hand includes 11 checks sent to Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as well as relevant invoices and ledger entries that pertain to those payments.

Among the key witnesses called to testify was Stormy Daniels, a porn actor, writer, and director, who offered a detailed and at times graphic account of a sexual encounter she claims to have had with Trump in 2006. Daniels revealed that although Trump did not directly threaten her, her own insecurities prevented her from refusing his advances. She also spoke about accepting $15,000 for an interview in 2011, which eventually ended up on a gossip website without her consent.

Daniels later accepted $130,000 from Cohen in the final weeks of the 2016 election in exchange for a legal agreement to keep her claim hidden. Trump's lawyers sought to challenge Daniels' motivation for coming forward, highlighting her dislike for the former president and suggesting that her story may have been fabricated. To these claims, Daniels retorted that if her story were fiction, she would have written it to be more compelling.

Another significant witness was David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and CEO of American Media Inc. During his testimony, Pecker revealed that he agreed to be Trump's "eyes and ears" during the 2016 campaign, actively seeking out damaging stories to suppress. He testified about paying off individuals, including former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to prevent them from going public with allegations of affairs with Trump.

Pecker's testimony corroborated claims made by Keith Davidson, a lawyer involved in negotiating hush money deals for both McDougal and Daniels. Davidson stated that the National Enquirer initially showed no interest in acquiring McDougal's story but eventually purchased it due to Pecker's influence and his connection to Trump.

In a closely watched moment, Davidson recalled a phone conversation with Cohen in which the latter expressed frustration over not being reimbursed by Trump for the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

As the trial heads into its concluding phase, the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defense will be carefully scrutinized. The fate of Donald Trump rests in the hands of the jurors as they weigh the evidence and testimonies placed before them.