After hearing weeks of grueling, graphic and often heartbreaking testimony, a jury unanimously decided Wednesday that Robert Bowers should be put to death for killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue nearly five years ago.

The panel of seven women and five men deliberated about 10 hours over two days. Choosing the death penalty required a unanimous decision. Anything less than that would have defaulted to a sentence of life in prison.

A formal sentencing hearing will be held Thursday in front of U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville. The jury’s decision is binding on the judge.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Michele Rosenthal (middle), sister of Tree of Life shooting victims Cecil and David Rosenthal, and family members of other victims, look on during a press conference.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Debi Slavin, twin sister of Tree of Life shooting victim Richard Gottfried, and her husband Don Slavin embrace during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Survivor Andrea Wedner (middle), daughter of Tree of Life shooting victim Rose Mallinger, speaks on behalf of the Mallinger family during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Survivor Deane Root speaks during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers speaks during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill following a jury’s decision that Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers should be put to death.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Doris Dyen speaks during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.  

Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Jeffrey Myers speaks as Peg Durachko, left, and her fiancé Ken Maleski, second left, listen during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Tree of Life shooting victims participate in a press conference at Jewish Community Center after the trial.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Jeffrey Myers speaks during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Doris Dyen speaks in a press conference at Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Debi Slavin, right, twin sister of Tree of Life shooting victim Richard Gottfried, talks her husband Don Slavin listens during press conference at Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Jeffrey Myers speaks during a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Tree of Life shooting victims participate in a press conference at Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Media representative cover Tree of Life shooting victims press conference at Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Massoud Hossaini | Tribune-Review Rabbi Jeffrey Myers leaves after a press conference at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.   Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Jean Clickner and husband Jon Pushinsky, friends of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, kiss outside the federal courthouse after a jury decided that Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers should be put to death.  

Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review Eric Olshan, U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania, listens to comments as he reacts emotionally at the U.S. District Attorney’s office at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Pittsburgh.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Colleen Francis (left), a defense team investigator, and Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers’ aunt Patricia Fine exit the federal courthouse after a jury decided that Bowers should be put to death.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Dor Hadash president Jo Recht (left) and past president Ellen Surloff exit the federal courthouse.  

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review Jean Clickner, friend of Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, speaks to the media outside the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh.  

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