FILE - In this May 10, 2019 file photo Tracy Petrocelli, 67, a convicted murderer who has been on death row in Nevada for 34 years, listens to testimony during his re-sentencing hearing in Washoe District Court in Reno, Nev. A week-long re-sentencing hearing is nearing the end for Petrocelli. Closing arguments were scheduled in state court in Reno Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool, File)
Republished May 16, 2019 - 3:16 PM
Original Publication Date May 16, 2019 - 11:56 AM
RENO, Nev. - The Latest on a resentencing hearing for a Nevada murderer who has been on death row for 34 years (all times local):
3:10 p.m.
A Nevada jury has reordered the execution of a three-time murderer who has been on death row for 34 years.
The jury in Reno deliberated about three hours after a weeklong resentencing hearing before rejecting a bid by 67-year-old Tracy Petrocelli (Peht-roh-SELL'-ee) to be allowed to serve life without parole.
Petrocelli stood from his wheelchair but showed no reaction to the unanimous verdict in support of his execution.
A federal appeals court two years ago upheld Petrocelli's conviction but ordered a new sentencing hearing because his rights were violated during the penalty phase of his trial in 1982.
He was convicted of murdering the owner of a Reno car dealership, his girlfriend in Seattle and a man in California, all in the span of a year.
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12:20 p.m.
A Nevada jury has begun deliberating whether to reorder the execution of a three-time murderer who's been on death row for 34 years.
Public defenders told jurors Thursday 67-year-old Tracy Petrocelli (Peht-roh-SELL'-ee) should spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole after a U.S. appeals court ordered resentencing based on violations of his rights during the penalty phase of his original trial.
They say he's changed in the three decades since he was convicted of murdering the owner of a Reno car dealership in 1982 just months after killing his girlfriend in Seattle.
A prosecutor says Petrocelli is the same evil man who also murdered a Californian in 1981. He says death is the only appropriate punishment for the most heinous crimes.
The case went to the jury in Reno shortly before noon.
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11:45 a.m.
A prosecutor says death is the only appropriate punishment for a Nevada man who has been on death row for 34 years for convictions in three murders in three states.
A jury in Reno is expected to begin deliberating Thursday after a week of testimony about 67-year-old Tracy Petrocelli's sentence.
Prosecutor Luke Prengaman told jurors during closing arguments that Petrocelli may be older now, but he's the same evil man who executed three people decades ago.
A federal appeals court two years ago upheld Petrocelli's conviction but ruled his rights were violated during the penalty phase of his trial.
A jury found Petrocelli guilty in 1982 of killing a Reno car salesman, months after Petrocelli killed his girlfriend in Seattle.
Petrocelli also was convicted of murdering a man whose body was found in 1981 near Barstow, California.
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7:30 a.m.
A weeklong resentencing hearing is almost over for a three-time convicted murderer who has been on Nevada's death row for 34 years.
Closing arguments were scheduled in state court in Reno Thursday. The jury that will decide the fate of 67-year-old Tracy Petrocelli could begin deliberations before the end of the day.
A federal appeals court upheld Petrocelli's conviction in the 1982 murder of the owner of a Reno car dealership but overturned his death sentenced two years ago.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court ruled his rights were violated when a psychiatrist who testified for the prosecution failed to read him his Miranda rights.
Petrocelli's public defenders are urging the jury to resentence him to life in prison without parole. They say he's a frail, old man who has behaved well in prison and does not deserve to be executed.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019