Joseph McEnroe's own attorney admits it was a diabolical union that resulted in the murders of three generations of family.
"We had, what you might call a match made in hell," said defense attorney Bill Prestia.
McEnroe and his then-girlfriend Michele Anderson killed 6 members of her family including two children on Christmas Eve 2007. Each of them was shot in the head because of an ongoing family feud.
Despite the horrific nature of the crimes, Prestia argued Tuesday that McEnroe does not deserve die.
"Joe was operating with mental impairments that made it impossible for him to see the alternatives that are very clear to all of us," he said.
But that may be a tough to sell to jurors, who convicted McEnroe last week of aggravated first degree murder after just a day and a half of deliberation. That same jury will now decide whether McEnroe will spend the rest of his life in prison, or if he will become the 10th man on Washington's Death Row. The law says McEnroe is presumed to be worthy of mercy and that prosecutors must prove McEnroe should be executed.
To that end, friends and family described the continuing agony brought on by the killings.
"It's not okay that there are no report cards or conferences. There are no baseball games. There will never be a wedding day or a prom or a graduation for them," said Sara VanDyk, referring to her niece and nephew killed by McEnroe.
"I worry for everyone who has been affected by this, my son, my wife, Sara...because sometimes it seems like it's too much to bear," added Tony Mantle, father and grandfather to three of the victims, as he choked back tears.
The defense maintains jurors should spare McEnroe's life, saying he'll spend the rest of his life in the hell of prison.
But prosecutors say jurors must act as the "conscience of the community" and sentence McEnroe to death by lethal injection.
"What is the appropriate punishment?" Asked prosecutor Scott O'Toole. "Does he get what he wants, or does he get what he deserves?"
