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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on a death penalty trial for a South Carolina father (all times local):
3:15 p.m.
The father of a South Carolina man convicted of killing his five children is asking jurors to give him life without parole.
Timothy Jones Sr. took off his tie and dress shirt to show jurors Monday the tattoos of the faces of his five slain grandchildren on his back at the request of defense lawyers.
Jones Sr. asked jurors to spare his son's life because he doesn't want to hurt anymore. He testified he tore down the pool he built for his grandchildren in his backyard because the memories were too painful.
The same jury that convicted Timothy Jones Jr. of five counts of murder last week is deciding between the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Jones Jr. killed his five children in their Lexington home in August 2014.
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12:50 p.m.
The grandmother of a South Carolina man facing a possible death sentence for killing his five children is asking a jury to spare his life. She says the family has already been through too much.
Roberta Thornsberry testified Monday that along with losing her five great-grandchildren when Timothy Jones Jr. killed them in their Lexington home in 2014, she also has had to deal with untimely deaths of other children and grandchildren.
When defense lawyer Casey Secor asked if Thornsberry thought Jones should die for killing his children, she said "no, God, no." She said his execution would be the final nail in her family's coffin.
The same jury that convicted Jones of five counts of murder last week is deciding between death and life in prison without parole.
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