James Biela, enters the courtroom Friday May 28, 2010. in Reno, Nev. Convicted murderer and rapist James Biela grew up in a poor, abusive and "frankly bizarre" household where his father routinely beat his mother and the children cowered in fear, sometimes using a bucket in their bedroom as a toilet, jurors were told Friday. (AP Photo/Marilyn Newton, Pool)
RENO, Nev. (AP) - A jury will hear more about James Biela before deciding whether he should be sentenced to death for killing Brianna Denison sexually assaulting two other women near the University of Nevada, Reno.
The jury returns to court Tuesday after convicting Biela last week of first-degree murder, kidnapping and three counts of sexual assault in a string of attacks that began in October 2007.
The 19-year-old Denison was abducted, raped and killed in January 2008.
Biela's lawyers are presenting mitigating factors in a bid to spare Biela's life.
They say there are reasons not to sentence Biela to die, including testimony about Biela's abusive father.
Prosecutors say Biela alone is to blame for his crimes.
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