By Andy Furillo
afurillo@sacbee.com
Jurors in the Aaron Norman Dunn murder case today completed more than eight days of deliberations without reaching a verdict in the penalty phase of the convicted spree killer's trial.
The panel took a little more than one day to return first-degree murder convictions April 13 against Dunn for the shooting deaths of Michael John Daly, 45, and Jon Johnson, 46. The two were shot down while out with their families in Elk Grove.
Dunn, 33, also was convicted of trying to kill four other people the night of the March 25, 2006, shootings. Police and prosecutors, as well as his defense attorneys, said Dunn was distraught over the breakup of his marriage and his estranged wife going out with other men.
Jurors haven't had any more questions for Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael W. Sweet since they asked last week whether they could consider remorse as an aggravating factor in the case.
A Sacramento jury has not sentenced a defendant to death since April 25, 2007, when a panel recommended capital punishment in a penalty phase retrial for James Leslie Karis Jr.
Karis, a paroled rapist, had been convicted and sentenced in 1982 for the kidnap-murder of a woman in Placerville. His trial had been moved to Sacramento from El Dorado County because of pre-trial publicity.
The last death penalty murder sentence in Sacramento that also included a guilt phase in the trial was returned on Dec. 21, 2006 against Joseph Moreno Aguayo for the kidnap, rape and murder of a woman in 1979.
Both Karis and Aguayo are on California's death row.
Call The Bee's Andy Furillo, (916) 321-1141.
Previous coverage:
Jurors still weighing fate of killer in Elk Grove spree - May 5, 2010
Jury weighs fate of Elk Grove killer of 2 men - April 30, 2010
Family describes killer's grim life - April 27, 2010
Victims' relatives tell of pain, loss at killer's sentencing hearing - April 23, 2010
Jury convicts man of gunning down 2 in Elk Grove - April 14, 2010
Jury deliberating fate of double-murder defendant Aaron Norman Dunn - April 13, 2010
Prosecutor, doctor spar over Elk Grove murder defendant's actions - April 8, 2010
Prosecutor eager to attack psychiatrist in Elk Grove shooting spree trial - April 7, 2010
Meth psychosis cited in killings; defendant's words cast doubt - April 6, 2010
Elk Grove cop testifies how she and partner stopped deadly rampage - March 17, 2010
Witnesses tell of lives shattered in deadly Elk Grove shooting spree - March 12, 2010
Prosecutor, defense attorneys agree suspect killed two people in Elk Grove - March 10, 2010
Elk Grove residents eligible for murder case jury - Dec. 11, 2009
Prosecutor's bid for Placer DA could stall trial for double killing - Dec. 2, 2009
Homicide suspect's lawyers don't want any Elk Grove jurors - Aug. 11, 2009
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