'Megan's Law' Killer Gets Death Sentence; Courts: Jury rejects plea to spare Timmendequas because he was abused in childhood. N.J. girl's killing led to new sex offender statute.: [Home Edition]

A jury on Friday ordered the execution of Jesse K. Timmendequas, who was earlier found guilty of murdering and raping 7-year-old Megan Kanka--a crime that launched a successful national campaign for public disclosure when convicted sex offenders move into neighborhoods. The jury of six men and six women, deliberating for 10 hours over two days, rejected arguments that the 36-year-old defendant should be spared the death penalty because he was irreparably scarred by his childhood.

As the jury entered the courtroom, Megan's parents clasped hands. Maureen Kanka began to cry and buried her face in her husband Richard's shoulder when the jury announced that Timmendequas, a thrice-convicted sexual predator, should die by lethal injection. Timmendequas shook when the verdict was read.

Friends of the Kanka family and relatives of the slain child also cried, as did several jurors.

Outside the courthouse in Trenton, N.J., people applauded.

Superior Court Judge Andrew J. Smithson set Aug. 1 as the execution date for Timmendequas, but appeals of the sentence will take years, lawyers said.

"Today, justice has been served," said New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

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"Megan's death was a tragedy for all of us," Whitman said. "Her family has demonstrated incredible strength and determination...