Death Penalty Possible in N.Y. Life Insurance Killings

A New York federal jury is deciding whether two defendants will get the death penalty for a series of life insurance killings.

Former postal worker Ronald Mallay and former insurance agent Richard James were convicted in July of taking out fake life insurance policies on four unsuspecting victims — then having them shot or poisoned.

A jury started deliberating Tuesday on whether the two will get death by lethal injection or life without parole.

The defense claimed Mallay and James were framed by Guyanese immigrants who testified with promises of U.S. residency. Two victims were in Guyana and two were in Queens.

Topics New York