Death penalty or life? Sentencing phase begins in Donovan Richardson trial

Wake County, N.C. — The sentencing phase for the trial of Donovan Richardson, a man convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the deaths of two Fuquay-Varina seniors in 2014, is set to begin Monday.

Court will begin at the Wake County Justice Center at 9:30 a.m., and the arguments will be streamed live on WRAL.com.

• Donovan Richardson trial: Guilty verdict in Fuquay-Varina double homicide

A Wake County jury on Friday found Richardson guilty of murdering Arthur Lee Brown, 78, and David Eugene McKoy, 66, on July 19, 2014 at their home on Howard Road.

The sentencing phase of the trial will determine whether Richardson will face the death penalty or life in prison.

Richardson is one of three men accused in the crime.

• Trial continues for man facing death penalty in 2014 Fuquay-Varina double homicide

Gregory Crawford pleaded guilty in May 2016 to charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and burglary in connection with the slayings. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Kevin Britt was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and burglary. He has not been sentenced yet, but he did plead guilty to being an accessory to murder. He also testified against Richardson during his trial.

Jurors found Richardson guilty on all counts, which included two charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and burglary.

Wake County has tried and failed to get the death penalty in eight cases since 2007, causing district attorneys to question its effectiveness, as fewer jurors are willing to give it.

The last person sentenced to death in Wake County was Byron Waring in 2007, who was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing Lauren Redman on Nov. 8, 2005. The last time a North Carolina convict was put to death was in 2006.

There are currently 143 people on death row in North Carolina -- 140 men and three women.