THE PENALTY PHASE IN JOHN MCCLUSKEY'S MURDER TRIAL STARTS IN ALBUQUERQUE MONDAY … AND IT COULD LAST AS LONG OR LONGER AS THE TRIAL. MCCLUSKEY'S 4-MONTH TRIAL ENDED WITH HIM BEING CONVICTED OF KILLING A RETIRED OKLAHOMA COUPLE TRAVELING THROUGH NEW MEXICO IN 2010.
THE JURY DETERMINED GARY AND LINDA HAAS WERE MURDERED BY MCCLUSKEY AT A REST STOP IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO AFTER MCCLUSKEY AND HIS BUNKMATE ESCAPED FROM AN ARIZONA PRISON. THE JURY WILL NOW DETERMINE IF HE GETS THE DEATH PENALTY OR LIFE IN PRISON.
MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON MCCLUSKEY'S PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE AS THE DEFENSE TRIES TO CONVINCE THE JURY HE HAS A MENTAL DISORDER. THE VICTIMS' FAMILY WILL BE CALLED ON TO PUSH FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.
