USA - California. A jury recommended that James Heard be put to death

A jury today again recommended that James Heard, 58, black, be put to death for killing (on Dec. 19, 1990) his girlfriend's 11-year-old daughter, Katrina Brown, and sexually assaulting her. His original death sentence was overturned by the California Supreme Court on August 28, 2003 because the trial judge had improperly dismissed a juror. The court upheld the conviction but ordered a new sentencing trial. A judge will review the jury's latest recommendation before deciding on Heard's sentence.