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- Sep 30, 2011
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A serial killer known as the "Grim Sleeper" should be sentenced to death for murdering nine women and a teenage girl over more than two decades in South Los Angeles, a jury decided Monday.
Lonnie Franklin Jr. stared straight ahead and showed no emotion as a court clerk read 10 death penalty verdicts.
Family members of the victims cried as the verdicts were read. One rocked back and forth, while another whispered to himself, "Thank you."
"We got what we came to get, a just verdict," said Porter Alexander, the father of 18-year-old victim Alicia Alexander. "I'm glad I lived to see it. It's a long time coming."
The 63-year-old Franklin, a former city trash collector and garage attendant for Los Angeles police, was convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder last month for crimes dating back more than 30 years.
A prosecutor had asked jurors to show Franklin the same compassion he showed his victims and give him the "ultimate penalty." An emotional defense lawyer asked jurors to sentence him to life without parole to hasten the healing process for the victims' family members.
Franklin's only words during the proceeding Monday were, "Yes, your honor." As he walked into court, family members of the victims whispered, "Dead man walking."
During the trial, defense lawyers questioned forensic evidence and said DNA from other men was also found on several bodies.
They suggested a "mystery man," possibly a relative of Franklin's, was the real killer.
The judge set formal sentencing for Aug. 10.
Jury returns death sentence for 'Grim Sleeper' serial killer
And there you have it.
Lonnie Franklin Jr. stared straight ahead and showed no emotion as a court clerk read 10 death penalty verdicts.
Family members of the victims cried as the verdicts were read. One rocked back and forth, while another whispered to himself, "Thank you."
"We got what we came to get, a just verdict," said Porter Alexander, the father of 18-year-old victim Alicia Alexander. "I'm glad I lived to see it. It's a long time coming."
The 63-year-old Franklin, a former city trash collector and garage attendant for Los Angeles police, was convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder last month for crimes dating back more than 30 years.
A prosecutor had asked jurors to show Franklin the same compassion he showed his victims and give him the "ultimate penalty." An emotional defense lawyer asked jurors to sentence him to life without parole to hasten the healing process for the victims' family members.
Franklin's only words during the proceeding Monday were, "Yes, your honor." As he walked into court, family members of the victims whispered, "Dead man walking."
During the trial, defense lawyers questioned forensic evidence and said DNA from other men was also found on several bodies.
They suggested a "mystery man," possibly a relative of Franklin's, was the real killer.
The judge set formal sentencing for Aug. 10.
Jury returns death sentence for 'Grim Sleeper' serial killer
And there you have it.
