Jury Deadlocks In Penalty Phase For Rowland Heights Family Killer
POMONA (AP) — A jury has deadlocked over the penalty for a Southern California woman who stabbed her husband to death with a sword and smothered her two sons with a pillow.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune says a hung jury was declared Monday. The panel split over whether to recommend death or life in prison for Manling Williams.
The Rowland Heights woman was convicted early this month of murdering her 27-year-old husband, Neal, and the couple's sons, 3-year-old Ian and 7-year-old Devon.
Prosecutors argued that she coldly killed them in order to end her family life. The defense said she acted in a fit of rage.
Prosecutors will announce in January whether they'll retry the penalty phase. If they don't, Williams would receive a life sentence.
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