USA - California. A jury has recommended the death penalty for Michael Thomas

A Los Angeles County jury has recommended the death penalty for Michael Thomas, 50, found guilty of arranging the murder of a witness from his jail cell. Judge Robert J. Perry set sentencing for Thomas for Sept. 30. He was convicted Sept. 8 of murder for the killing of 42-year-old Erik Poltorak. Poltorak had been expected to testify that Thomas robbed him during a home invasion robbery that took place on Aug. 13, 2011. Poltorak was shot to death on his doorstep on Nov. 1, 2012. Allen Williams, the gunman, who was 23 years old with no prior criminal record at the time of the crime, is serving a life sentence without the chance of parole. Thomas's niece, Jessicha Thomas, was 20 years old at the time and also had no criminal record. She testified against Thomas in exchange for a leniency agreement for second-degree murder. Yvonne Keith, 49 years old at the time of the murder, pressured the other two into committing the killing. She is also serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.